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."

Comments

The pivot point on the leg can move

[CanadianRealist]

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.

ITS ED209!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

two steps backward.

[Gravis Zero]

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?!

Re:two steps backward.

[blind biker]

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.

Re:two steps backward.

[tloh]

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.

Re:two steps backward.

[MrSteveSD]

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.

He's a complicated bot

[Chelloveck]

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

Similar to the drone in "Silent Running" from 1972

[dsmatthews9379]

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