Watch: Boston Dynamics’ robots conquer the indoors and the outdoors
Boston Dynamics knows exactly how to get our attention, and the firm’s latest two videos show its robots self-navigate both inside and outside.
In the first clip (below), you can see SpotMini, Boston Dynamics’ lightweight, dog-like robot, wander around an office on its own for more than six minutes (parts of the video are sped up).
During its adventure, it goes up and down steps, squeezes through narrow corridors and doorways, and even nips outside. There are sadly no doors for it to open or people for it to fight, but we already know SpotMini is capable of doing both.
“SpotMini autonomously navigates a specified route through an office and lab facility. Before the test, the robot is manually driven through the space so it can build a map of the space using visual data from cameras mounted on the front, back and sides of the robot,” Boston Dynamics says.
“During the autonomous run, SpotMini uses data from the cameras to localize itself in the map and to detect and avoid obstacles. Once the operator presses ‘GO’ at the beginning of the video, the robot is on its own.”
The second clip shows Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot, channel his inner Rocky Balboa and go for a run in the great outdoors.
It’s remarkably steady on its feet, considering the video shows it trotting across short grass, long, patchy-looking grass and uphill, and it even manages to leap over a log at the end, albeit after approaching it very slowly and deliberately.
What are you expecting next from Boston Dynamics? Share your thoughts @TrustedReviews.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
