Just when you thought you could survive the coming robot revolution by outrunning them, Boston Dynamics have released video of their latest invention, ‘Handle’: a 6 and a half foot tall humanoid style robot which can travel 9mph via the wheels on the end of its legs. Oh, and it can jump 4 feet vertically while its motoring along too…
It uses electric power to operate both electric and hydraulic actuators, with a range of about 15 miles on one battery charge. Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles found in the quadruped and biped robots we build, but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex. Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs Handle can have the best of both worlds.
Joking aside though, this latest robot looks to have amazing potential for simple carrying/moving/delivery jobs.
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