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Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot grows a set of hands, attempts construction work

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Summary

Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot has been given a set of hands and is attempting to do construction work. The hands are simple clamp-style grippers, and the robot is learning how to pick up and carry objects that are heavy enough to throw it off-balance. It is also running, jumping, and spinning while carrying heavy objects. The robot is beginning to learn how to do actual work, though it is still quite clumsy and crushes the objects it picks up.

Q&As

What tricks has Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot learned?
Atlas has learned to walk in a lab, walk on unstable terrain, do parkour tricks, and pick up and carry objects.

What type of hands does Atlas have?
Atlas has simple clamp-style hands with a wrist and a single moving finger.

What kind of objects is Atlas attempting to lift?
Atlas is attempting to lift "inertially significant" objects, such as a big plank, a bag of tools, and a barbell with two 10-pound weights.

How is Atlas calculating the effects of extra mass on its balance?
Atlas is calculating the effects of extra mass on its balance by making educated guesses about where the object is, how fast it is moving, and how to move the arms to cause the object to spin.

What is Atlas attempting to do on construction sites?
Atlas is attempting to do actual work on construction sites, such as picking up and carrying objects, running, jumping, and spinning while carrying heavy objects, and jumping and throwing heavy toolboxes.

AI Comments

👍 It is impressive to see how Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot is able to learn new tricks and perform work on a construction site. The addition of hands to the robot will be a great tool for it to be able to lift and manipulate objects to complete tasks.

👎 Despite the addition of hands to the robot, it appears the robot is still quite clumsy and unable to pick up objects without damaging them. It also seems unclear when this robot will be able to do more complicated tasks such as washing dishes.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot, which has been given a set of hands and is attempting to do some construction work.

Friend: That's really interesting! It's a big step forward for humanoid robotics. What do you think the implications of this could be?

Me: Well, I think this is a big step towards robots being able to do more complex tasks and being more useful for people. We might be able to build robots that can do manual labor tasks, like construction and factory work, that are too dangerous or difficult for humans to do. We could also use robots to do mundane tasks like cleaning and dish-washing, which would free up people to do more meaningful and higher-level work. It could also reduce the number of people needed to do certain tasks, which could lead to job losses in certain industries.

Action items

Research other humanoid robots and their capabilities.
Research the development of robotic hands and their applications.
Explore the potential of robots in construction work and other industries.

Technical terms

Atlas: Atlas is a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics. It is designed to be able to walk, jump, and carry objects.
Inertially Significant: Inertially significant objects are objects that are so heavy they can throw Atlas off-balance.
Newton's Third Law: Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This law is important for Atlas to understand when it is manipulating objects.
Gripper Claws: Gripper claws are the hands that have been added to Atlas. They are simple clamp-style hands with a wrist and a single moving finger.
Rickety Scaffolding: Rickety scaffolding is a type of scaffolding that is unstable and can move when stepped on. Atlas is able to walk on this type of scaffolding while carrying heavy objects.