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do somersault, climb a scaffold EITHER dance with the rolling stones: With each new video uploaded, Boston Dynamics robots impress and fascinate. In the space of fifteen years, the American company has made a name for itself thanks to the precise demonstrations of its “dog” or its “humanoid” with such realistic movements. The last shows Atlas carrying boards or throwing bags onto scaffolding.
Behind these little balls, days of work and failures to hit the shot, although the staging should not hide the feat achieved by these extraordinary machines.
With a little extra trick: humor, to create a positive image with the population. Because humanoid robots, defense trade shows are full of them. And while many are destined for transport, others are heavily armed. Together with the imagination left by works of science fiction, such as terminator EITHER I robota real dread can surround advances in modern robotics.
However, it was with the military that it all began for Boston Dynamics. Created by researcher Marc Raibert in 1992, the company was approached a few years later, and even financed, by the US military. From this support a first prototype was born in 2005: with the Big Dog robot, the objective then was to transport military equipment. But noisy operation and insufficient autonomy led to the abandonment of the project in 2015.
That same year Spot was born. HE quadruped robot takes the form of its predecessor. But this time, the “dog” of Boston Dynamics prevails outside the military field. We find him exploring sensitive galleries, monitoring the ruins of Pompeii, or even infiltrating the smallest corners of the Paris metro.
Above all, Boston Dynamics has managed to give its robot an authentic canine look. Even pushed, he keeps his balance by stomping like a dog. All that’s missing are the moans.
Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics has embarked on the design of its Atlas humanoid robot, introduced in 2013. This ace backflip is a true technical feat, since it’s difficult to mechanically replicate human balance and movement.
Now equipped with pliers, Atlas could help with work or any tedious task, even if his lifelike gait makes him endearing and unsettling.
Today, the creations of Boston Dynamics – which has renounced any military application – are among the most advanced in the robotics market. To reach this level, the company develops its robots in a very specific way. Marc Raibert has always explained his approach as “a kind of machine and software design”, explains Philippe Bidaud, Onera’s scientific director.
The last mile challenge
In 2020, Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics. The South Korean automaker has spent $1.1 billion to complete its mobility logic and stop being content with its cars, trucks or SUVs. With the know-how of the American company, it wants to establish itself in the last kilometer, one of the key points in the transport of goods, or the mobility of people.
The leader also specifies that the software, sensors and, ultimately, intelligence within the manufacturer’s models have finally convinced Hyundai to become the owner of the company.
Still, Boston Dynamics still needs to improve the reliability of its robots outside of its well-calibrated videos.
This Tuesday, February 22 at 10 p.m., BFM Business and Tech&Co offer the previously unpublished documentary Boston Dynamics, robots that wish you the best? followed by a debate on the advances and applications of robotics. It will be moderated by François Sorel, surrounded by Anthony Morel, journalist from BFM Business
Source: BFM TV
