DARPA Robotics Challenge unveils advanced humanoid robot (VIDEO)
Posted by: Jon on 07/12/2013 11:06 AM
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The DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) was created with a clear vision: spur development of advanced robots that can assist humans in mitigating and recovering from future natural and man-made disasters.
-On-board real-time control computer;
-Hydraulic pump and thermal management;
-Two arms, two legs, a torso and a head;
-28 hydraulically actuated joints;
-Carnegie Robotics sensor head with LIDAR and stereo sensors; and
-Two sets of hands, one provided by iRobot and one by Sandia National Labs.
The New York Times points out that ATLAS is being designed to perform rescue functions in situations where humans cannot survive. The Pentagon has devised a challenge in which competing teams of technologists program it to do things like shut off valves or throw switches, open doors, operate power equipment and travel over rocky ground. The challenge which will be held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., and comes with a $2 million prize.
Some see ATLAS’s unveiling as a giant — though shaky — step toward the long-anticipated age of humanoid robots.
Seeing ATLAS standing at just over 6' and weighing in at about 330 pounds is pretty intimidating, but one can rest assured that ATLAS has been programmed with the three laws of robotics:
-A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
-A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
-A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
-On-board real-time control computer;
-Hydraulic pump and thermal management;
-Two arms, two legs, a torso and a head;
-28 hydraulically actuated joints;
-Carnegie Robotics sensor head with LIDAR and stereo sensors; and
-Two sets of hands, one provided by iRobot and one by Sandia National Labs.
The New York Times points out that ATLAS is being designed to perform rescue functions in situations where humans cannot survive. The Pentagon has devised a challenge in which competing teams of technologists program it to do things like shut off valves or throw switches, open doors, operate power equipment and travel over rocky ground. The challenge which will be held at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla., and comes with a $2 million prize.
Some see ATLAS’s unveiling as a giant — though shaky — step toward the long-anticipated age of humanoid robots.
Seeing ATLAS standing at just over 6' and weighing in at about 330 pounds is pretty intimidating, but one can rest assured that ATLAS has been programmed with the three laws of robotics:
-A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
-A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
-A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
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