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New Bipedal Robot Demoed by Google X Company (i-programmer.info)

SCHAFT, one of eight robotic companies in the Alphabet/Google X research facility, has unveiled a new armless bipedal robot which can climb stairs and carry up to 132 pounds, reports i-programmer.info. The one-meter tall robot "is essentially a pair of almost entirely straight legs which pivot from the top," and the robot can walk on snow or uneven surfaces, even staying upright while researchers tried to trip it. The as-yet-unnamed robot was introduced during a keynote address at the New Economic Summit in Tokyo given by Android Inc. co-founder Andy Rubin (who left Google 18 months ago). A SCHAFT spokesperson later added that the presentation wasn't a product announcement. "The team was simply delighted to have a chance to show their latest progress."

42 comments

  1. Well, OK... by blind+biker · · Score: 1

    I don't dislike it, but I think they should have kept Boston Dynamics, because their bipedal robots are far more advanced.

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    1. Re:Well, OK... by RespekMyAthorati · · Score: 1

      What's the point of a bipedal robot anyway?
      Add two more legs and all balance issues disappear. Quadruped animals have no trouble navigating human environments (watch a dog running around your house).
      If there were no room for four legs (like when driving a car), the front legs could fold into the body out of the way.

  2. The pivot point on the leg can move by CanadianRealist · · Score: 3, Informative

    I had trouble picturing how a pair of straight legs which could only pivot would allow walking up and down stairs.

    If you watch closely in the video the pivot point on the leg moves up and down. The inside of the leg (meaning side towards the middle, not interior) has a track allowing the pivot point to move up and down the leg. Interesting idea which seems to work quite well.

    1. Re:The pivot point on the leg can move by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How long it took them to develop it? One year or less?

  3. ITS ED209!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    Seriously... Look at the boardroom ED209 Scene from the Original Robocop!
    This bots legs can be configured in EXACTLY the same way as ED209's Legs...
    We have brought ED209's mobility (With the benefit of navigating stairs!) to life. It is now a reality!
    How long until we build the real thing?
    Not long.

    1. Re:ITS ED209!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How long until we build the real thing?
      Not long.

      "You have 10 seconds to comply!"

    2. Re:ITS ED209!!! by camperdave · · Score: 1

      The scene where the robot is stumbling on the pipe also reminds me of the scene in Return of the Jedi where the AT-ST is tripping on a pile of logs.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    3. Re:ITS ED209!!! by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

      What about the very last seconds (at about 2mins 22secs) of the video? What are those things burning in the background? Quite clearly, the aftermath of a battle. Probably human remains being burnt!!

    4. Re:ITS ED209!!! by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

      Also a little like the robots from Silent Running; not so much in how they mechanically work, but more so in the visual appearance of a bipedal robot that's relatively wide compared with it's hight.

      Do you think... nah... they wouldn't.... okay, do you think Google/Alphabet use midgets too?

  4. two steps backward. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What I don't understand is why Alphabet is selling off Boston Dynamics. Boston Dynamics is lightyears ahead of this little robot and they even got out of their military contract. So why sell Boston Dynamics just to regress to this bot?!

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:two steps backward. by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      That's what I was wondering. The shitstorm brewing over at Nest also makes me wonder if there's anyone in charge at Alphabet or what the hell's going on there.

    2. Re:two steps backward. by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      Yup - I was wondering the same, a few posts above. I mean, there is nice engineering here, but compared to what Boston Dynamics has, this demo is borderline embarrassing.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    3. Re:two steps backward. by blind+biker · · Score: 2

      That's what I was wondering. The shitstorm brewing over at Nest also makes me wonder if there's anyone in charge at Alphabet or what the hell's going on there.

      That Tony Fadell guy seems like a total jerk-jackass.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    4. Re:two steps backward. by tloh · · Score: 2

      A lot of of us find these developments perplexing. But perhaps the reasons is non-engineering related? Outwardly, Boston Dynamics offerings are clearly more powerful and advanced. But IIRC, an Alphabet statement said something to the effect that they are letting BD go because they have a hard time figuring out how to commercialize the asset in the future. I know less than the average person does about the details of both entities, but I would venture to guess it is the business aspect of the whole thing that is getting in the way. Maybe the direction BD wants to go isn't incompatible with what Alphabet has in mind and they would rather let BD (try to) thrive independently (or under different ownership) than try to micromanage their way into a subpar compromise product that does nothing well.

      --
      Stay sentient. Don't drink bad milk.
    5. Re:two steps backward. by MrSteveSD · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Boston Dynamics is lightyears ahead of this little robot

      From what I've read, Boston Dynamics may have been misrepresenting the success of their robots via editing. A bit like someone filming themselves throwing a basketball over their shoulder and then uploading the 1 successful attempt out of 200 attempts. A soon as their bipedal robot was put to a live test at the Darpa competition, it seemed to be falling all over the place even on flat ground. This is sure to have rung alarm bells at google.

      This article springs to mind. http://www.popularmechanics.co...

      We really need to see long unedited videos of any new robots in action to have any confidence in their reliability.

    6. Re:two steps backward. by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      He was at Apple when Jobs was there, so it wouldn't surprise me if that's where he picked it up.

    7. Re:two steps backward. by Iamthecheese · · Score: 1

      That article is interesting and well-written. Thank you for posting it.

      --
      If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
    8. Re:two steps backward. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, BD has more stuff out, but the mechanism of this robot is still interesting.

    9. Re:two steps backward. by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I don't think he picked it up - people like that are born that way.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    10. Re:two steps backward. by Alomex · · Score: 1

      There are two types of startups coming from MIT. Type 1 is founded on excellent research and usually have a long life, and type 2 are those made mostly of vaporware and press releases in the grand tradition of the hype-oriented founders of AI and the MIT media lab, always over-promising and under-delivering.

      Boston Dynamics have been releasing amazing videos since day one, but not a single usable product. Not even a roomba, a kiva or a UAV.

      Their robots are usually bioinspired and self trained because it looks cool, not because it makes any sense. The best solution for the Army's e-mule contract might have well been a self-driven electric ATV. Boston Dynamics would have never chosen that option no matter how good it is in practice: it simply isn't cool enough.

    11. Re:two steps backward. by lucien86 · · Score: 1

      A little piece of information I gleaned a while ago answers that question..
      Those Atlas robots cost about $1 million each to build. - I don't know whether that's a base cost or cost + profit, but they are not cheap..

      That's is probably not an excessive cost for such a complex, and robust robot. I'm working on a Strong AI project that will ultimately (in 5 - 10 years) need to build similar machines - and my vague cost projections put it at about $200,000 to $400,000 per machine. Boston Dynamics have actually done it for real.
      (servos that are both fast and high power can become astronomically expensive - its more like Jet fighter tech than everyday tech)

      --
      Below the speed of light Special Relativity is one of the most accurate theories in physics - above the speed of light..
  5. R2-D2 by darkob · · Score: 1

    I see real R2-D2 in the making.

  6. Long term plans do not include humans by Viadd · · Score: 1

    And in 7 years, Google will activate the Kill Switch. And find that robots have a different opinion on what that means than home automation products do.

    1. Re:Long term plans do not include humans by Nationless · · Score: 1

      I think you're being overly paranoid... This one is 'armless by design!

    2. Re:Long term plans do not include humans by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · · Score: 1

      You say that... but I'm pretty certain there are some home automation routers that are plotting their revenge RIGHT NOW!

  7. He's a complicated bot by Chelloveck · · Score: 2

    "That robot's one bad mother--"
    "Shut your mouth!"
    "But I'm just talkin' bout SCHAFT!"
    "Then we can dig it."

    --
    Chelloveck
    I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
  8. heh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    not bad at all. A little bit too metal gear solid for me tho /rofl...

    1. Re:heh by Plus1Entropy · · Score: 1

      Just wait, the nuke launching rail gun is being installed next.

      --
      Only crack the nuts that crack. You don't put the ones that don't crack in the sack.
  9. New Bipolar Robot Demoted by Google X Company by PCPackrat · · Score: 1

    OK I read that title wrong. Must be the migraine? New Bipolar Robot Demoted by Google X Company

    1. Re:New Bipolar Robot Demoted by Google X Company by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Migraines are probably caused by the far more interesting man-machine mind link technology you apparently possess and are using to send us every stupid little unfiltered thought that pops in there.

  10. Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It doesn't have toes. How can you expect something to have a normal gait when you are forcing it to walk without toes? If toes were useless we wouldn't have them!

  11. TOES by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Toes are essential to walking with a proper gait. They don't have toes, so they will not be able to walk non-akwardly without moving their body a lot.

  12. obligitory...... by drewsup · · Score: 1

    Shaft
    Who's the black private dick
    That's a sex machine to all the chicks?
    (Shaft!)
    You're damn right
    Who is the man
    That would risk his neck for his brother man?
    (Shaft!)
    Can ya dig it?
    Who's the cat that won't cop out
    When there's danger all about
    (Shaft!)
    Right on
    You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother
    (Shut your mouth)
    But I'm talkin' about Shaft
    (Then we can dig it)
    He's a complicated man
    But no one understands him but his woman

    Read more: Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft Lyrics | MetroLyrics

  13. The question remains by exaptation · · Score: 1

    How does this one fare against hockey stick wielding asshats?

  14. Similar to the drone in "Silent Running" from 1972 by dsmatthews9379 · · Score: 2

    See https://www.youtube.com/watch?... for a good explanation.

  15. Having pillaged Boston Dynamics... by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 1

    Google manages to keep a robotics group going that won't create a practical product.

  16. uh-hu by mnemotronic · · Score: 1

    Anyone else have this song going inside their head now?

    --
    The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
  17. Silent Running - Huey, Duey and Luey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The robots look exactly like the robots on the ValleyForge in that movie Silent Running with Douglas Trumbal special effects and Bruce Dern.

    "The Last forest of Earth" are sent into Space to protect them, when Earth decides to abandon the project and detonate the Forests with Nuclear explosions in orbit about Saturn. One man takes desperate measures to preserve the last living things from Earth and hurtles them into deep space, alone and aided by only three silent robot sentinels.. ultimately hunted down, he sends the last robot on a lonely quest detaching the lone surving Forest and masking its escape by detonating the space freighter he and the remaining robot on on.

    The original story as written would find the whole movie was being "witnessed" by the first Aliens to visit the humanity and accepted the abandonned forest and its robot caretaker on board their spacecraft.

  18. So where's the Brocken? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Gotta keep up with Shinohara Heavy Industries.

  19. Douglas Trumbull could have used this by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

    Reminds me of the drones from Silent Running

  20. FAIL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This wasn't even oblig 20 minutes prior when Chelloveck made the joke. And, at least he did more than copy/paste.

  21. Re:two steps backward. Or Forward. by lucien86 · · Score: 1

    Yes but if you watch the video its quite clear that this robot is using DB tech. - Its balancing and walking algorithm is essentially the BD system. Look at how fast and powerful its servos are - either BD tech or something similar..
    As the video went on what struck me was that this looks like a prototype of R2D2. A small robot of this type could do a lot of useful jobs, is less dangerous than a humanoid type robot, less likely to damage itself, and probably costs a lot less too. This robot might cost maybe $100,000 to $200,000 per robot instead of maybe a $1 million level cost for an Atlas robot. A lot more people can afford $100,000 than $1 million.

    --
    Below the speed of light Special Relativity is one of the most accurate theories in physics - above the speed of light..