Boston Dynamics made a kickass robot on wheels that jumps higher than you

Robots are getting more human-like by the minute, but soon they might also be a lot more athletic.

Venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson shared footage from a recent Boston Dynamics presentation, where founder Marc Raibert unveiled an impressive new robot that replaces standard feet with a pair of Segway-like wheels.

Much like its previous inventions, the Google-owned robo-developer has packed the machine, called Handle, with cutting-edge hardware and software that enables it to carefully balance out its weight according to the terrain as well as its own speed and movements.

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While unlike its previous Atlas robot that has the capacity to effortlessly stride across uneven surfaces, the Handle appears to be designed for smoother areas – though it seems it can roll through grass without any significant hiccups.

Raibert explains the Handle is “much more efficient” than a robot with traditionally styled feet and has the capacity to carry a “reasonably heavy load.” The inventor also mentioned that the wheel design should bring down the cost of manufacturing..

Boston Dynamics also took a moment to moment to flex the robot’s athleticism, showing a brief clip in which you can see the Handle perform a beautifully executed jump over a barricade.

The presentation also teased a demo of the company’s new four-legged Harmony robot, which appears to build upon Boston Dynamics’ previously showcased Spot robot concept. Using a programming approach known as sequential composition, the Harmony supports a wide range of movements and capabilities, which allows it to walk in a series of different gaits.

Check out the rest of the presentation in the video section above.

via Gizmodo