ATLAS Stumbles on the Eve of Its Big Trial
Kyle Maxey posted on November 27, 2013 |

robot, darpa, design, challenge, search, rescue, obstacle,

robot, darpa, design, challenge, search, rescue, obstacle,

robot, darpa, design, challenge, search, rescue, obstacle,

With virtual trials behind them DARPA’s Robotics Challenge is set to begin its first “live-trial” on December 20. With teams from around the US are gearing up to put their ATLAS robots through the ringer DARPA is hoping to have demonstrated that robots can assist in “humanitarian, disaster relief and related operations” at the end of its 27 month trial.

Built by Boston Dynamics ATLAS is gold standard for today’s programmable, humanoid robots and was selected by DARPA to the model used by all competitors in the Robotics Challenge. While the robot is a marvel, it’s got a long way to go before it’s ready to start operating in the real world.

In a new video released by the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) an ATLAS robot is put through an obstacle course consisting of a few 2x4s, a bundle of rope, various stones and a ramp. While the Institute’s ATLAS plods sheepishly through a good deal of the track it eventually falls when trying to step over/onto a 2x4.

Before robots are going to be hearty enough to make it in the field, they’ll need to be able to bound through courses like one created by IHMC. But rather than solely focusing on the ATLAS’s shortcomings, the video is also has one obvious positive – We’re now seriously considering using robots for real world tasks, and the first model is being rapidly developed before our eyes.

Images Courtesy of DRCihmcRobotics

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