Boston Dynamics, which has developed robots that can run, jump, and do somersaults, has shown new skills in a video on its website, a "reimagined" version of the wheeled robot Handle, first demonstrated in February 2017.
If the early version of the Handle showed remarkable agility in jumping over obstacles and the ability to move freely over various terrain with difficult terrain, now it has been equipped with a suction cup grip and “taught” more practical skills - moving goods in a warehouse.
The new version of the robot looks a bit bigger than its predecessor. And this time the updated Handle is really very good at stacking boxes.
According to the company, the boxes weigh 11 pounds (5 kg), but the robot is "able" to carry loads weighing up to 33 pounds (15 kg).
The Handle robot can autonomously stack boxes on pallets, as well as re-palletize after initializing SKUs. Its on-board visual recognition system tracks navigation-marked pallets and locates individual crates to pick up and place.
Last year, the company announced plans to commercialize the SpotMini robot, part of a new product monetization avenue that appears to be part of the larger company's strategy, first Google and then SoftBank. The SpotMini robot will go on sale later this year.
Of course, this video should not be taken as a clear sign that the company is moving in this direction. In addition, it is difficult to imagine a robot as advanced as Handle doing warehouse work - too expensive.
Source: 3dnews.ru