It shifts the weight around of its foot on a support to find a stable

What began as a clumsy tethered robot can now walk across tricky terrain with ease.

Google's Boston Dynamics Atlas has been upgraded with an algorithm that makes the humanoid better balance itself while traveling over stepping stones and rocks.

The new addition comes from the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, who say the robot is able to find a solid foothold by shifting the weight of its outstretched foot on the edge of a support.

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Google's Boston Dynamics Atlas has been upgraded with an algorithm that makes the humanoid better balance itself while traversing small stepping stones and rocks. Atlas can be seen standing with its arms stretched out to its side in a video, as it treks over the terrain

ATLAS'S BALANCING ACT Boston Dynamic's Atlas has been upgraded with an algorithm that makes the bipedal humanoid better balance itself in order to traverse small stepping stones and rocks. The new addition comes from the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition. Researchers say the robot finds a solid foothold by shifting the weight of its outstretched foot - allowing it to obtain its balance before taking another step. The team also explains that the incorporation of angular momentum, as Atlas heaves up its torso when moving its leg at an angle, allows the robot to exhibit ‘human like balancing motions’ Advertisement

Atlas can be seen standing with its arms stretched out to its side in the video, as it treks over the unstable terrain - just like a human would who is trying to keep their balance.

‘The Atlas Humanoid walking over small and partial footholds such as small stepping stones or line contacts,’ the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) shared in a video showcasing Atlas’s new talent.

‘After each step the robot explores the new foothold by shifting its weight around its foot.’

‘To maintain balance we combine fast, dynamics stepping with the use of angular momentum (lunging of the upper body).’

The Atlas robot, created by Google-owned firm Boston Dynamics, is a formidable figure at 6ft 2in (1.8 metres) tall and weighing in at 330lbs (150 kg).

The robot boasts 28 hydraulically-operated joints and stereo vision, making it one of the most advanced robots ever created.

On its website, Boston Dynamics said: 'Atlas can walk bipedally leaving the upper limbs free to lift, carry, and manipulate the environment.

The short clip shows the humanoid standing on a stack of cinder blocks that are placed near a pit filled with rocks and other blocks.

The short clip shows the humanoid standing on a stack of cinder blocks that are placed near a pit filled with rocks and other blocks. The robot is controlled by a human, but it is not simply a matter of using a joystick to control the robot

MOVEMENTS MASTERED BY ATLAS Atlas can now do a range of movements including: - Standing up after falling over - Running - Balancing on a narrow beam - Cleaning, including vacuuming and sweeping - Karate kick - Throwing a paper airplane Advertisement

Atlas stretches its right foot out onto one of the cinder blocks that sits at an angle in the pit, moves it around to see if its footing is stable and when it believes it has good balance, the robot extends its left foot to an adjacent block.

The robot is controlled by a human, but it is not simply a matter of using a joystick to control the robot.

‘To balance and walk it is helpful to have an estimate of the current support polygon as the area where the CoP (Center of Pressure) can be placed,’ IHMC writes in the study published in the journal arXiv.

‘While walking over uncertain terrain, the new foothold is explored after each step.’

‘If there is no additional information about the foothold available we start by assuming the full foot to be in contact with the ground.’

Atlas stretches its right foot out onto one of the cinder blocks that sits at an angle in the pit, moves it around to see if its footing is stable and when it believes it has good balance, the robot extends its left foot to an adjacent block

The team also explains that the incorporation of angular momentum, as Atlas heaves up its torso when moving its leg at an angle, allows the robot to exhibit ‘human like balancing motions’

THE ATLAS ROBOT According to Boston Dynamics, Atlas is a 'high mobility, humanoid robot designed to negotiate outdoor, rough terrain. 'Atlas can walk bipedally leaving the upper limbs free to lift, carry, and manipulate the environment. 'In extremely challenging terrain, Atlas is strong and coordinated enough to climb using hands and feet, to pick its way through congested spaces.' Advertisement

IHMC explains that Atlas will begin to shift its local foot, the first one it uses to take a stop, CoP around within the foothold.

If it feels comfortable with the CoP in the area of its foot that is on the ground, it will then lift the other foot to another spot.

However, it is when the robot ‘thinks’ it is not well balanced will it rotate about the edge of the support – in this case it is a cinder block.

The team also explains that the incorporation of angular momentum, as Atlas heaves up its torso when moving its leg at an angle, allows the robot to exhibit ‘human like balancing motions’.

‘This is an important step in the effort of making legged robots useful in real world scenarios,’ reads the study.

In 2015, Atlas competed in what is called the ‘Robot-Olympics’, where the world’s most advanced robots compete in a series of challenging events. IHMC watched as Atlas walked over the tricky terrain, but, without the new algorithm, the humanoid went tumbling down after taking just one step

‘The ability to walk on unexpected partial footholds greatly increases the robustness of a robot when employed in cluttered environments.’

‘In addition it vastly extends the set of environments a robot can traverse.’

In 2015, Atlas competed in what is called the ‘Robot-Olympics’, where the world’s most advanced robots compete in a series of challenging events.

IHMC watched as Atlas walked over the tricky terrain, but, without the new algorithm, the humanoid went tumbling down after taking just one step.

However, over the past year Boston Dynamics has been improve its humanoid to accomplish more human like skills.

Earlier this year, the robotics firm revealed it has the ability to easily get up on its own if it falls.

This a skill that was missing during the Robo-Olympics, as a crane was required to life the machine upright.

The new wireless version was shown being pushed over by an employee - and simply getting back up.

However, over the past year Boston Dynamics has been improve its humanoid to accomplish more human like skills. Earlier this year, the robotics firm revealed it has the ability to easily get up on its own if it falls

The new wireless version was shown being pushed over by an employee, falling face down on the ground, but this time, it was able to get back up on its own

The video also shows the robot walking out of the firm's office and across a snowy plateau.

While losing its footing several times, it corrects itself and stays upright.

It is also shown moving 10kg boxes with ease in a tight space.