GEEKERY: Atlas – Our New Robot Overlord?
Boston Dynamics announce the next generation of Atlas – an all terrain robot that walks on two feet.
Atlas started as a DARPA project – it’s a bipedal, all terrain model that includes 28 hydraulically-actuated degrees of movement, and an articulated head with stereo cameras and a laser range finder. It’s powered by an off-board, electric power supply that requires a tether.
This week they released this video of the newest generation of Atlas – they’ve come a very far way in a short time…
A new version of Atlas, designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings. It is specialized for mobile manipulation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. It uses sensors in its body and legs to balance and LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation and manipulate objects. This version of Atlas is about 5′ 9″ tall (about a head shorter than the DRC Atlas) and weighs 180 lbs.
As you can see – the Boston Dynamics team has continued the “let’s kick the robot!” tradition that’s going to lead to packs of T-800s mowing humans down during the robopocalypse 😛
What are your thoughts on our future robot overlords?