Humanoid robots are undergoing training to improve their ability to recover from falls. Boston Dynamics and Agility, two prominent companies in the robotics field, have initiated programs aimed at teaching their bipedal robots to brace for falls, recognizing this as an inevitable aspect of their operation.
Last week, Boston Dynamics captured attention with two significant announcements. The first was the introduction of the electric Atlas, generating widespread interest with nearly five million views on its promotional video. Additionally, the company announced the retirement of the original hydraulic Atlas after a decade of service, commemorating its evolution from a DARPA research project to a proficient bipedal robot. However, the farewell video also highlighted the challenges, showcasing moments of falls and slips alongside the robot’s achievements.
This transparency in acknowledging the robots’ falls reflects a departure from showcasing only successful outcomes, emphasizing the iterative process of development. Pras Velagapudi, Agility’s newly appointed CTO, sees such falls as valuable learning experiences, particularly as robots engage in real-world tasks where unexpected situations are inevitable.
Both companies emphasize the importance of robots being able to fall without sustaining damage, enabling them to learn from failures and improve over time. Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter notes that the ability to recover from falls, demonstrated by the electric Atlas, is crucial for practical applications, such as in charging scenarios.
Spot, another robot developed by Boston Dynamics, has provided valuable insights into handling falls through its extensive real-world deployment. Despite occasional falls, the company has worked to minimize the occurrence and ensure the robots’ durability.
Agility’s Digit, equipped with arms for added functionality, has also faced occasional falls but has demonstrated the capability to recover using reinforcement learning techniques. Such resilience is vital for humanoid robots to integrate seamlessly into existing workflows, especially in environments not specifically designed for automation.
The challenges of rescuing fallen humanoid robots underscore the necessity for them to autonomously recover from falls to maintain uninterrupted operation in industrial settings.
In summary, the ongoing efforts by Boston Dynamics and Agility to train humanoid robots to recover from falls highlight the importance of resilience and adaptability in advancing robotics technology for practical applications.
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