Looks like Boston Dynamics is moving fast from quadripedal locomotion to the outstanding Atlas biped robot. In the Atlas the upper limbs are free and they are effectively used to carry and handle loads, and even opening doors! This new Atlas prototype seems to be much more agile and more human-like size. Although the focus for Atlas is in balance and dynamics, I guess next step is endowing this humanoid robot with proper hands (I don’t really see this Atlas version dealing with a regular door handle. Anyhow, I can imagine how it might be able to open the door anyway…).
I’m always taking about robots and emotions…, but this time I just think it’s a good thing that the Atlas robot didn’t show any anger when dealing with the annoying guy with the hockey stick (luckily for the human).
