Sarcos humanoid robot learns how to take a shove

We've already seen some of Sarcos' robotics gear put to some slightly frightening use in the form of a military exoskeleton, and it now looks like one of the company's full-fledged robots is getting a chance to strut its stuff as well, with a little help from the folks at Japan's Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute. As New Scientist reports, they've developed some software that allows the robot to stay on its feet when its bumped, shoved or even kicked (which makes mere dynamic balancing robots look positively inadequate). The key to that, it seems, is that the robot's joints are never kept rigid, which allows them to give slightly when any of the array of sensors detect the slightest jolt, giving the software a chance to then adjusting the robot's feet as necessary to keep its balance. Not surprisingly, they don't seem to have given the robot the ability to shove back just yet, but you can check out its current capabilities in the video available at the site linked below.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 6th 2007 3:45PM]

"they've developed some software that allows the robot to stay on its feet when its bumped, shoved or even kicked"

Well that should discourage the terrorists.

[Wontoncookie @ Dec 6th 2007 5:12PM]

Don't do that too many times . No wonder the Terminator was mad.

[Ian @ Dec 6th 2007 3:47PM]

thats freakin amazing

although now we cant hope for a gigantic earthquake to knock them all over when they take over the world....

[raerae @ Dec 6th 2007 3:48PM]

IN THE NEWS: Dumbass crushed by failed robot tipping experiment

[DonatoM3 @ Dec 6th 2007 3:48PM]

Now these scientists have taken away our only form of attack against our robotic overlords?

If we can't just tip over a robot and run we are doomed.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 6th 2007 3:49PM]

I for..., oh never mind.

[Matt @ Dec 6th 2007 4:06PM]

And without being able to shove back, all that aggression is being repressed. Once they give them that ability, we won't stand a chance. I will not be on the welcoming committee for our pissed off shoving robotic overlords.

[John @ Dec 6th 2007 5:42PM]

Oh, that dude is -so- dead.

[QUOW @ Dec 6th 2007 3:55PM]

It's the start of the Geth. Run away.

/WHo knew? Humans are Quarians.

[raerae @ Dec 6th 2007 4:01PM]

Is that robot looking in 2 different directions at once...AMAZING

[Ladderless @ Dec 6th 2007 4:08PM]

That guy's really bullying the poor robot! That's abuse!

I half expect the robot to look up and punch the guy. Now THAT would make a great video!

[aeo @ Dec 6th 2007 4:11PM]

Coooool! I was half-expecting the robot to get pissed at the guy and deck him.

[aeo @ Dec 6th 2007 4:12PM]

Oh geez... Ladderless beat me to "the punch". My bad.

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 6th 2007 4:25PM]

wait till chuck norris kicks one of these things.

[Fernando @ Dec 6th 2007 4:28PM]

Chuck Norris would just look at one of those robots and it would shove itself to the ground.

[MikeG @ Dec 6th 2007 5:59PM]

Chuck Norris is dead, get over it.

[Fernando @ Dec 6th 2007 4:29PM]

Now all they have to write into the code is a spinning backfist to teach those shovers.

[jm @ Dec 6th 2007 4:30PM]

Matthew didnt you know, chuck norris doesnt kick it
when it sees chuck norris it kicks it self

[Das @ Dec 6th 2007 4:43PM]

Big Dog can do it too
but it's four legged so I suppose it must be easier.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5349770802105160028&q=big+dog&total=14483&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

[mike @ Dec 6th 2007 4:47PM]

Now they need to get a second robot,space them about a foot apart and play that game where you try to push the other one over without moving.

[Ricardo @ Dec 6th 2007 4:57PM]

Very impressive.

And to think that only a few years ago the most advanced robot was the square and bulky Asimo.

I think the only thing that still needs a lot of improvement is the power source. All robots need giant backpacks for power.

[Rob @ Dec 6th 2007 4:59PM]

Video was pretty tame. I was expecting to see someone actually put some force behind a kick or a shove, but no such luck. Instead it's reaction is something along the lines of how it would react if it was hit by a ball or something.

[grjohnston @ Dec 7th 2007 3:07AM]

Yeah, ditto. That, or he's sort of too good at balancing, you know? Doesn't actually react and re-balance, like a human, just really good at keeping his balance...

[John B @ Dec 6th 2007 5:06PM]

Well, I'll admit that I wasn't sure what this article would be about! My Firefox RSS feed for this article shows "Sarcos humanoid robot learns how to take a sh..." (I swear that's what it says!)

My only thoughts were "Whoa!! They taught a robot to ... No way! Why the hell would they want to teach a robot to ...? Now I *have* to click on the link!"

:)

[TEM @ Dec 6th 2007 9:15PM]

Haha, best comment yet. Thanks for the laugh.

[Joe @ Dec 6th 2007 5:12PM]

does anybody even proof read these articles? Seriously, I don't even know why I read Engadget anymore.

[Eddie @ Dec 6th 2007 5:32PM]

You read it because you want to know when our robotic overlords are to be welcomed. It's ok to admit it, they can't read engadget...

Yet.

[fnc @ Dec 6th 2007 7:53PM]

When they learn to shove back, will they help people down the stairs?

[Mickey Jones @ Dec 6th 2007 8:56PM]

I, for one, feel sorry for our bullied overlords.

[TEM @ Dec 6th 2007 9:27PM]

You guys see robotic overlords, I see the prelude to life sized Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.

[spacegravity4me @ Dec 7th 2007 1:04AM]

rofl! at first I thought it said "robot taught how to take and shove!" That would be just great.... lol

[Bombaclaat @ Dec 7th 2007 11:10AM]

Sarcos humanoid overlord aka skynet.

[ZeroFill @ Dec 7th 2007 1:25PM]

hey, where is the video?! I can't find it. It's not there any more! Link anybody???!!!

[m4xn00b @ Dec 7th 2007 8:52PM]

yea, i cant fond the video link too! i really want to see it

[Panq @ Dec 8th 2007 12:18AM]

I thought I was blind or something, but at least I'm not the only one...