ATLAS, the standard-bearer for the next generation of robotics, is back and better than ever. In fact, it’s fully 75% better than ever, as the newest version of Google and Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot carries over only a quarter of its parts from earlier prototypes. Everything from the battery pack to the arm strength has been upgraded, and not just for the sake of it — DARPA is getting ready to have ATLAS “cut the cord,” along with the rest of the competitors in its challenge in robot AI. Soon enough, ATLAS will be stomping through simulated “disaster” (combat) zones to “save” (neutralize) “civilians” (whomever) with total autonomy, and with no tether to undo a fall. The DARPA Robotics Challenge is getting harder — much harder — and as a result it’s pushing its robotic contestants into exciting new territory. Beyond physically severing the safety tether that has always followed the robots through testing, the next iteration of the challenge will test each robot’s autonomous coding through enforced communications blackouts of up to a minute. Blockages and undisclosed problems will interfere with the robots’ ability to navigate doors, stairs, even ladders; to make it through at all, let alone with a good score, ATLAS will need all the upgrades it can get.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 00:33:23 +0000
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