The new robot can lift heavy loads and even jump up to 4ft. Image Credit: YouTube / Boston Dynamics
Robotics firm Boston Dynamics has released new footage of its unnerving new two-wheeled robot 'Handle'.
Following a leak back at the beginning of February, the Google-owned company's latest creation has finally been officially revealed to the public this week.
Described by Boston Dynamics' founder Marc Raibert as "nightmare-inducing", this two-wheeled contraption looks like something out of a science fiction movie.
Capable of lifting heavy loads, the robot can traverse all manner of terrain types and can even leap four feet in to the air to help it bypass obstacles.
"Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles found in the quadruped and biped robots we build, but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex," Boston Dynamics wrote.
"Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs Handle can have the best of both worlds."
BD is responsible for a lot of "nightmares" over the past few years. After the great human/machine wars, the history books will surely mention them as an early catalyst...
If you were the paranoid type then the current technology boom in A.I as well as robotics and numerous types of unmanned drones being patented or developed, including drones that can stay aloft permanently, seem to hint at a nightmare inducing future with these as the prelude
I'm pretty sure this, extreme sports, robot will not be put to any practical use within my lifetime. "Yeah but it can lift a box and move on a snowy slope!" - goodbye human race. I'm glad we've found something worthwhile to spend all of those spare millions on.
I find it interesting that the robots usually bend their "knees" akin to a four-legged animal and not a human. There must be some type of advantage in bending "backwards". Of course if we did that we couldn't sit down on chairs.
I assume its a balance thing.... but the Japanese have have done better with 2 legs, as in, like human legs THIS IS NOT A MAN in a suit....its a brilliant robot!
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