Atlas, the humanoid robot of Google, continues his apprenticeship. Recently, the engineers of the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition taught him to move on uneven ground consisting of breeze blocks. After several attempts and a succession of errors, Atlas has acquired a skill that few robots master, walk on obstacles without breaking the figure.
Atlas managed to move his weight
In order to achieve this performance, the team trained Atlas to "feel" a particular point on an irregular surface. When the situation arises, the robot starts by testing the ground with his foot. Then he advances cautiously, shifts his weight in order to keep his balance and spread his arms. Thanks to this adaptation, the machine finally crossed its obstacle course without falling.
For humans, balance is controlled by the inner ear. It ensures our stability thanks to several receivers. As we are all different, the aptitudes in this matter also differ. For example, tightrope walkers are more talented than others. In order to adjust their postures, robots perform several thousand calculations per second. In addition to their algorithm, their success also depends on the flexibility of their joints. Thanks to 3D printing, robot research is progressing rapidly.
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