Atlas, a Boston Dynamics creation (via DARPA)
As robotic technology increases more and more emergency civil agencies, first responders and military units incorporate them into their respective arsenals. Doctors will soon be able to use remote imaging robots in situations where they cannot get to the patient. Firefighters will soon be able to quickly image an internal structure and find those trapped in burning buildings using a robotic ROV and factories will be able to use robots that can help in industrial or hazardous situations when the need arises. Of course then we come to military applications involving robots and the immediate stigma arises of ‘Terminator-style’ robots involved only with destruction. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, there are drones and remotely operated robots that are equipped with weapons platforms, however these allow soldiers to stay out of harm’s way when the situation warrants. A vast majority of military contractors are actually looking to develop robotic platforms whose primary function is to save lives. For the better part of 20 years or more one of these agencies, DARPA, has been developing a variety of robots that are capable of providing multiple life-saving services on the battlefield and have made significant advances over those years.
The defense agency recently unveiled their Atlas humanoid robot at Boston Dynamics headquarters located in Massachusetts. The robot is the result of DARPA’s Virtual Robotics Challenge/DARPA Robotics Challenge, designed to develop advanced robots to assist humans through natural and manufactured disasters. Actually, like all robots, the frame is basically only a shell that houses its advanced algorithm brain that controls the hulking mass. That ‘brain’ was written and developed by several teams through the VRC challenge while several others from Boston Dynamics were responsible for the construction of the Atlas. Besides Boston Dynamics, several other agencies and institutes were involved in the DRC including NASA, Carnegie Mellon University, SSCAFT Inc. and Virginia Tech-- all had a hand in developing the robot in one form or another. The Atlas itself is a an agile anthropomorphic robot outfitted with an onboard computer, 28 hydraulic actuators for movement (arms, legs, torso and head), a hydraulic pump complete with cooling system, and 2 fully functional hands built by Sandia National Labs and iRobot. The robot’s head is packed with stereo sensors for accurate data acquisition and LIDAR (analyzing refracted light through laser illumination). Atlas is powered by an onboard battery system to move the massive 330lbs, 6-foot 2-inch body that is controlled by a remote human operator. When it comes to movement, the Atlas is no slouch as it is capable of climbing over obstacles using its hands and feet, dynamic walking and even calisthenics! The teams responsible for the robot’s construct and development have until December of this year (2013) to make any refinements before they head off to compete in the Military Robotics Challenge at the Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida in December. Atlas is set to go up against NASA’s Valkyrie and Robosimion robots along with several other entries from various institutions including an entry from the University of California (Santa Barbara). The challenge will determine a winner that is capable of working in real-world scenarios involving simulated disasters.
Atlas is giving Boston Dynamics' other project, PETMAN, a run for its money.
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