Robo Sapiens Are Emerging

A new species, “Robo Sapiens” (termed) are emerging….

The concept of robots, more specifically human robots or ‘Humanoid Bots’ is common to the modern time we are living today. While these humanoid bots might still resemble the ‘Terminator’ but they are widely used today for scientific researches and in computing industries.

The concept of the humanoid machine roots back from various cultures and philosophical texts across the world, portraying it as a man’s giant mechanical form. Physical prototypes of the humanoid machine were later created in the Middle East, Italy, Japan, and France.

Well in this article, I’ll share some info about one of these Humanoid bots…. well, it’s not as human as Sophia or Samsung’s Samantha.

Atlas…. primarily developed by the American Robotics Company- ‘BOSTON DYNAMICS’ with the funding of US DARPA. Atlas is a bipedal Humanoid Robot, initially designed for a variety of search and tasks, and was first unveiled to the public on 11th July 2013.

DARPA (a Defense Agency of USA) cooperated with Boston Dynamics to design and produce the Atlas; while one of its hands was developed by Sandia National Laboratories, the other was developed by iRobot.

"A 1-year-old child can barely walk, a 1-year-old child falls down a lot ... this is where we are right now," said DARPA program manager Gill Pratt when he first tested the prototype in 2013.

Atlas is equipped with two vision systems – a laser rangefinder and stereo cameras, both controlled by an off-board computer – and has hands with fine motor skill capabilities.

A contest (DARPA Robotics Challenge) inspired by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, was organized in 2014 where Atlas robots as programmed by six different teams competed to test their ability to withstand obstacles and perform various tasks which includes getting in and out of a vehicle and driving it, opening a door, and using a power tool. In 2015 Atlas won by six minutes.

Atlas, the next generation

In February 2016, Boston Dynamics remodified the version of Atlas and expanded its capabilities. The new version of Atlas can now walk on a wide range of terrain (including snow too!), can do backflips, cartwheels easily, and was specialized for mobile manipulation.

It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. The LIDAR and stereo sensors helps Atlas to assess the terrain, navigate, balance and avoid the obstacles. This version of Atlas is 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) tall and weighs 80 kg (180 lb).

How’s the new Atlas?

The new Atlas is now living in the future; the last update as of August 2021, Boston Dynamics claimed to train the robot using new techniques showed Atlas doing various floor routines in gymnastics. The robot can now smoothly perform handstands, somersaults, run on any terrain, jump on boxes turning 180 degrees, do parkour courses with jumps, balance beams, and vaults.

The most surprising fact is that it can even dance on songs. On 29th December 2020, Boston Dynamics released a video showing Atlas dancing on the song “Do You Love Me”

Atlas is now battery-powered and hydraulically actuated with 20 degrees of freedom. It has RGB cameras and depth sensors that provide input to its control system. All the computation required for control perception and estimation happens in three onboard computers.

Atlas is one of many examples of a successful Humanoid bot in the history of Modern Computing.

- Rohan Banerjee