Boston Dynamics, the Waltham, MA-based robotics company acquired by Google last year, has already wowed us with its terrifying galloping robot that can run up to 25 miles per hour. Slightly less terrifying is this 6-foot robot named Ian that, among other things, can do the famed crane stance from ’80s classic “The Karate Kid.”
According to 9 to 5 Google, Ian, one of Boston Dynamic’s Atlas line of robots, has a more noble calling than reenacting iconic movie scenes.
Ian is part of an ongoing robotics project that seeks to create automatons that can replace humans in hazardous roles like firefighting.
Ian has already demonstrated a variety of abilities, including traversing difficult and uneven terrain, carrying objects such as firehoses, and even to get into a car and drive it. It can also use both its hands and feet to climb over the most treacherous obstacles.
Ian’s head is made up of two cameras and a laser rangefinder that provide it with the necessary depth perception to accomplish many tasks that most other robots simply wouldn’t be able to. It can turn its head to get a better view of its surroundings. It has a total of 28 moveable joints throughout its body.
Sweep the leg, Atlas! SWEEP THE LEG! And then sweep the disaster zone for potential survivors. But after that go back to sweeping the leg!
[h/t 9 to 5 Google]
