undefined | Better HN

0 pointsmodeless3y ago0 comments

The business case problem is solely a capability problem. Flexibility is hugely valuable and would make a capable humanoid robot way more valuable than traditional automation in plenty of applications.

But Atlas just can't do anything useful without decent hands. And it seems to me like the mechanical problems and control problems for hands are actually much harder than for legs. Boston Dynamics doesn't have much going on there yet, at least in public.

0 comments

2 comments · 2 top-level

kitsunesoba3y ago

I agree on both counts. The ability to repurpose the robot as needed for a virtually infinite range of tasks is worth a lot…

As for hands, I wouldn't be surprised if they're working on something in that realm, but good hands alone aren't worth a whole lot without the rest of the robot and they don't make for particularly snazzy demo videos, so they haven't been shown off (if they exist). Now capable hands on a capable robot on the other hand… that's a recipe for a viral video.

DoctorOetker3y ago

meanwhile thirteen years ago, high speed robotic hand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KxjVlaLBmk

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse