An electric new era for Atlas • Hacker News Board

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#111

Post by HarHarVeryFunny » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:31 PM UTC

dcuthbertson wrote: post #44

dcchambers wrote: post #37

Lmao of course they had to make him get up off the ground in the creepiest way possible.

Oh the horrors! Please use "it", not "him"! These machines are creepy enough w/o being anthropomorphized more than they already are! 8-)

This guy seems less creepy than his predecessor. He looks more like a hobby servo-motor robot. I liked the aesthetics of hydraulic Atlas better - somehow fitted well with the character they gave him in all the choreographed demos.

I can't see them really being creepy unless/until we get to "uncanny valley" territory with realistic faces and expressions.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#112

Post by lukan » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:32 PM UTC

bamboozled wrote: post #70

assimpleaspossi wrote: post #56

I'm thinking the humanoid approach to robotics is now a gimmick. In most--if not all--cases, a robot in human form is not necessary at all if the approach is to get work done.

I think so too but I can see how it’s desirable as a drop in for spaces where a person would normally work. Mostly wheels just seem like a better idea. For rough terrain, why not just fly ?

"For rough terrain, why not just fly ? "

Weight

(You need way more energy to do anything)

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#113

Post by andrewinardeer » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:32 PM UTC

Nothing to worry about here.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#114

Post by stephc_int13 » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:33 PM UTC

Fricken wrote: post #57

BD is done with hydraulics. I wonder how good this new robot will be at powerful, dynamic movements such as leaps and flips.

Their previous humanoid robot, Atlas, was using hydraulics. But Spot (the dog like one) is not.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#115

Post by andsoitis » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:33 PM UTC

At least you can hear it coming.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#116

Post by colingoodman » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:33 PM UTC

simplicio wrote: post #75

dkobia wrote: post #11

If all Boston Dynamics did was make Youtube videos, they'd have a pretty good business.

Is that their business? They've been around for 30+ years and I don't think they've ever successfully commercialized a product. So far as I can tell, they just hop from DARPA grant to DARPA grant and make cool videos of the results. I don't have any particular problem with that, but its a little weird? I figured they were a more traditional industrial robotics company that just did the humanoid robots as a side line…

They've sold some of their robots (particularly the dog) to PDs and manufacturing companies. Not sure if they've ever been profitable, though.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#117

Post by stanski » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:34 PM UTC

tivert wrote: post #46

K5EiS wrote: post #23

They also posted a farewell to the previous robot yesterday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9EM5_VFlt8 Looking forward to see some more robot parkour/dance

> They also posted a farewell to the previous robot yesterday > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9EM5_VFlt8 I wasn't expecting to see a robot bleed, several times.

It's also cool to see it tuck in its appendages when it falls; to prevent that.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#118

Post by p1esk » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:34 PM UTC

stephc_int13 wrote: post #101

I am much more excited to see the progress of what Boston Dynamics is doing than by the next iteration of AI Chat. Of course this is not directly comparable, but I think robotics is harder and more less open to brute force approaches.

I’m pretty sure the next iteration of “AI chat” (multimodal generative models) will enable the next iteration of robotics.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#119

Post by andsoitis » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:34 PM UTC

stephc_int13 wrote: post #101

I am much more excited to see the progress of what Boston Dynamics is doing than by the next iteration of AI Chat. Of course this is not directly comparable, but I think robotics is harder and more less open to brute force approaches.

Robots can also learn about their environment and the results of their interactions in a direct way. Embodied learning and competence, if you will.

Re: An electric new era for Atlas

#120

Post by alfor » Wed, Apr 17, 2024, 2:35 PM UTC

jack_riminton wrote: post #34

A hill I'm willing to die on: bipedal robots are an evolutionary path that machines don't need to go down, we have lovely bearings and wheels that work perfectly with electric motors. Yes obviously there are limitations i.e. stairs and uneven terrain but there are wheeled/tracked solutions for those too Most of these robots will be used in factories that have very nice flat concrete floors

I too think it's a distraction too but it's won't be the limiting factor. Planes don't flap their wings, cars don't have legs yet are faster and more powerfull than animals.

The important part lagging is the brain. Understanding the world, reacting to it learning. Even an ant can navigate the world pick-up objects and do tasks.