Introduction:
Boston Dynamics, the robotics company known for its advanced robots, recently released two major announcements. The first was the introduction of the electric Atlas, a highly impressive robot that has gained significant attention. The second announcement was the retirement of the original hydraulic Atlas after a decade of service. This farewell video highlighted the journey of the older Atlas and reminded viewers of the challenges and failures that come with robotics development.
Transparency and Learning from Failure:
The celebration of the older Atlas in the farewell video showcased Boston Dynamics’ commitment to transparency in robotics development. The company believes that showcasing only successful outcomes creates unrealistic expectations. Bipedal robots, like humans, experience falls and failures. By acknowledging and learning from these setbacks, Boston Dynamics can make progress in creating robots that are more stable and reliable.
The Importance of Falling:
According to Pras Velagapudi, Boston Dynamics’ newly appointed CTO, robots falling during real-world tasks is actually beneficial. Unexpected events are inevitable when robots operate in dynamic environments, and falls can provide valuable insights for improvement. Harvard’s rules for falling without injury suggest that protecting the head, using weight to direct the fall, bending the knees, and avoiding affecting others are essential principles for humans. Similarly, Boston Dynamics aims to design robots that can fall without breaking, allowing them to learn from failures and make necessary adjustments.
Robustness and Practicality:
Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter emphasized the practicality of robots being able to get up from a prone position. This capability is not only useful for recovering from falls but also for charging purposes. The company has learned valuable lessons from its quadrupedal robot, Spot, which operates extensively in real-world conditions. Despite occasional falls, Spot’s fall rate has significantly decreased over time due to continued improvements in stability and durability.
Arms as a Means of Protection:
Agility Robotics, another robotics company, recognizes the importance of arms in falling situations. Arms provide balance, help with recovery after a fall, and facilitate object manipulation. Agility Robotics has even suggested that falls during live demos were orchestrated to showcase the durability and quick-change limbs of its robot, Digit.
Reinforcement Learning and Righting Fallen Robots:
Agility Robotics has been utilizing reinforcement learning to train its fallen robots to regain an upright position. In a video demonstration, Digit used its arms to mitigate the fall and then utilized reinforcement learnings to return to a familiar position from which it could perform a robotic pushup to stand up again.
The Challenges of Rescuing Humanoid Robots:
Humanoid robots are designed to fit into existing workflows, particularly in brownfield environments that were not custom built for automation. However, when these robots experience errors or falls, rescuing them can be challenging. Boston Dynamics recognizes this issue and believes that robots must be able to get themselves off the ground to ensure uninterrupted automation.
Conclusion:
In the world of robotics, falling is not only inevitable but also a valuable learning experience. Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics embrace transparency and acknowledge that falls are part of the development process. By celebrating falls and learning from failures, these companies can make significant progress in creating more robust and reliable robots. The ability to recover from falls is crucial for humanoid robots to seamlessly integrate into existing workflows and ensure uninterrupted automation.