Google is selling its company Boston Dynamics after developing bots that look and act like dogs, cheetahs, and fleas, but has developed a new humanoid robot with powerful legs and a wide spectrum of skills. Alphabet's new barbell-carrying and step-climbing humanoid was built by Japanese robotics company SCHAFT that won the 2013 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Robotics Challenge.
The Tokyo-based company unveiled its bipedal robot at this year's New Economic Summit in Japan. Few details have been released about the android except that it can carry up to 132 pounds (60 kilograms) and walk on uneven terrain, according to Tech Insider.
The unnamed robot walked across the stage at the summit's stage and joined Schaft co-founder Yuto Nakanishi, according to Tech Crunch. A video was then shown that featured robots like the one on the stage facing the crowd.
In the demo video shown at the event the robot is seen carrying a barbell with heavy weights, getting its footing after stepping on a metal tube, and walking up stairs. The mechanical man can also walk on different terrains including a rocky beach, forest floor, and snowy hill.
Schaft's new robot is unique due to its walking system. Instead of using its feet in a regular human stride, the android has rail-like legs that slide up and down.
The result is that the legs are able to lift without bending. Meanwhile, the joints can be angled in or out, and "ankles" located at the bottom keep the machines stable while walking on rough terrain. Meanwhile, the legs are powered by batteries and motors located between the legs.
In the past robotics built by Alphabet subsidiary Boston Dynamics including BigDog and Spot were featured in viral videos. However, Alphabet executives doubt the company could create much revenue during the next couple of years, and seems to be difficult to cooperate with. Amazon or Toyota might be interested in buying the company for their production and warehouse operations.
In related news, DARPA recently launched its new Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV). The autonomous vessel can travel for months up to 27 knots without any crew members. The sub-hunter robot can function safely near manned ships and in all weather conditions.