At 6’ 2” and 330 pounds, it’s the size of an NFL defensive tackle. It can walk and lift heavy objects, replace its hands with customized attachments and complete tasks without direct human supervision, thanks to an on-board computer and plenty of sensors.
The hope is that Atlas someday soon will be working alongside human first responders to earthquakes, typhoons and other disasters, helping to carry supplies or clear debris. It also could be sent into situations deemed too dangerous for humans, such as the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan.
But Atlas has a ways to go before it’s tackling search-and-rescue missions. The result of a $10.9 million contract with Boston Dynamics, the strapping robot must first take part in DARPA's Robotics Challenge, which invites teams of engineers to create a remotely controlled robot that can respond to disasters.
Variations of Atlas, programmed by different teams, will face off against other robots this December in a series of trials meant to test the machines’ readiness for the field. In a series of disaster scenarios, the robots must be able to navigate rough terrain on foot, move debris, climb a ladder and tear down doors or walls to get to victims.
Since communication can be spotty after a disaster, they must also be able to operate semi-independently. The robots will even be tasked with driving a vehicle.
The top-performing robots will then receive further funding, undergo improvements and go on to compete in the DARPA's Robotics Challenge finals in December 2014. At least one version of Atlas is expected to be among them.
Source: www.cnn.com
Woooow! Nice!
Lets look forward to Robots who would pound our yam *Hello Nigeria*
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