Boston Dynamics Robots Dance Their Hearts Out
Credit: Unsplash
Who says metal men can’t dance?
A big part of creating the futuristic robots we’ve all been craving is not so much making them autonomous as it is making them flexible. It doesn’t matter if a robot can think for itself if it can’t take two steps without falling on its metaphorical face. This is why the work of Boston Dynamics has been so interesting. In just a few short years, their robots, from the dog-like Spot to the humanoid Atlas, have gone from short, shaky steps to gymnastics and parkour. This week, though, as a little send-off to 2020, the BD engineers gave their mechanoids a new passion: one for dance.
On Tuesday, Boston Dynamics posted a YouTube link to their official Twitter showcasing some footage of their robots’ new functionality. It was a real showstopper this time; two Atlas units, a Spot unit, and their mobile manipulator Handle unit, all engaged in a choreographed dance routine set to the Contours’ classic hit, “Do You Love Me.” All of the robots stayed perfectly in time with the music throughout the entire video, showcasing some truly extraordinary flexibility, motor skills, and coordination. The Atlas units in particular were perfectly capable of performing all of the dances named throughout the song, from the Mashed Potato to the Twist.
Our whole crew got together to celebrate the start of what we hope will be a happier year. Happy New Year from all of us at Boston Dynamics. https://t.co/Uys5RMfBqO pic.twitter.com/rY7Xk1BRZN
— Boston Dynamics (@BostonDynamics) December 29, 2020
As of writing, the YouTube video has garnered an impressive 536,000 likes. However, those likes are accompanied by at least 10,000 dislikes from multiple users who claim that the routine was staged with CGI, though no evidence of this claim has been specifically cited. I guess some folks just really don’t want to believe a robot can dance. As for the rest of us, this was a lovely treat from BD, showcasing the incredible progress of their inventions while also reminding us that one of the best uses of science and technology will always be good old fashioned fun.
