23rd January 2015

ATLAS humanoid robot gets an upgrade

This week, DARPA revealed upgrades to its bipedal humanoid ATLAS robot. The machine was redesigned for DARPA by Boston Dynamics, with the goal of improving power efficiency to better support battery operation. Approximately 75 percent of the robot was rebuilt; only the lower legs and feet were carried over from the original design. In the future, ATLAS could assist emergency services in search and rescue operations, performing tasks such as shutting off valves, opening doors and operating powered equipment in environments where humans could not survive.

In addition to improved power and the ability to function without a power cord, other upgrades to ATLAS include:

• Repositioned shoulders and arms allow for increased workspace in front of the robot and let the robot view its hands in motion, thus providing additional sensor feedback to the operator.

• New electrically actuated lower arms will increase strength and dexterity and improve force sensing.

• The addition of an extra degree of freedom in the wrist means the robot will be able to turn a door handle simply by rotating its wrist as opposed to moving its entire arm.

• Three onboard perception computers are used for perception and task planning, and a wireless router in the head enables untethered communication.

• Re-sized actuators in the hip, knee, and back give the robot greater strength.

• A wireless emergency stop allows for safe operation.

• As a result of its new pump, Atlas is much, much quieter than before.

The upgraded robot will be used by up to seven teams competing in the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, which take place on 5th and 6th June 2015 at Fairplex in Pomona, California. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. For more information see http://www.theroboticschallenge.org.

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