Boston Dynamics reveals 'nightmare-inducing' new robot Handle

Via telegraph.co.uk by Mark Molloy

If you remain unperturbed about the rise of the machine, this rather terrifying video of Handle the robot in action might just change your mind.

The towering 6ft 5in robot is the latest brainchild of Google-owned company Boston Dynamics, who have both terrified and amazed the world with their hi-tech creations.

Footage of Handle was leaked at the start of February, with Boston Dynamics founder and CEO Marc Raibert even admitting it was “nightmare-inducing robot”.

The two-wheeled robot was recorded lifting up 100lbs crates, gliding across ramps like skater Tony Hawk in hi sprime and effortlessly jumping onto a 4ft platform in the latest clip.



Handle “uses electric power to operate both electric and hydraulic actuators, with a range of about 15 miles on one battery charge”, the robotics company says.

Boston Dynamics explains: “Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles found in the quadruped and biped robots we build, but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex.

“Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs Handle can have the best of both worlds.”

The video sparked jokes from viewers about the human race having to answer to robot overlords in the future, one wrote: “Thumbs up if this terrifies you.”

Another joked: “When you finally realise Terminator movies were documentaries.”

Boston Dynamics previously released footage of another terrifying robot being bullied by its human masters.

And this Boston Dynamics robot dog may be the ultimate household butler.

There is still hope, however, these useless robot waiters were fired for incompetence in China.
Source