Meet ATLAS!

The robot era is approaching. Pentagon through their subordinate agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was developing a few of robot development projects. The latest is a robot like the terminator, named ATLAS and creations of Boston Dynamics, a US robotics company part-funded by the DARPA.

The robot has a height of 1.8 meters (5.91 ft) with a weight of 150 kilograms (330.69 lbs). As part of the DARPA Robotics Challenge Program that called Maximum Mobility and Manipulation programme, ATLAS robot is tethered, powered from an off-board, electric power supply.

DARPA's ATLAS. (Picture form: http://www.washingtonpost.com/)

ATLAS' reason for being is to serve as a humanoid robot that will be capable enough to move in outdoor, rough terrain. The limbs need to perform well, to be able to lift, carry and manipulate in rough environments. ATLAS was unveiled in July, 2013 at the company, as a robot that can respond to dangerous emergencies.

And Boston Dynamics claims that the robot has a body that is strong and able to climb using hands and feet. This robot was made to be able to cope with various types of terrain, from muddy fields, forests, deserts and others.

To show off the capabilities of robots, DARPA, has just released a video. In the video, ATLAS robot is shown performing various movements, from running to avoid some obstacles.

Referring to Atlas's ability to remain balanced despite being hit by a lateral weight, Noel Sharkey, professor of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the University of Sheffield, told the BBC: "This is an astonishing achievement... quite a remarkable feat." Do you know the purpose of making this robot? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PHYS ORG | BBC | GIZMODO]
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