Much has been said about the possibility robots from Boston Dynamics will chase down humans in some hypothetical android apocalypse, and new video suggests they'd have no issue navigating obstacles while doing so.
But what the latest demonstration of the prototypical humanoid Atlas's abilities doesn't show is they also crash.
A lot.
In fact, the US-based company estimates they still crash about half the time while performing the parkour routine filmed to showcase Atlas's nimbleness.
In the video, two Atlas robots navigate jumps and steps of varying heights, vaulting over and running along a balance beam before ending the routine with two backflips a piece.
It's more than most humans can do, but the team at Boston Dynamics explain that the robots aren't intelligently navigating an unfamiliar course. They've been programmed and trained to complete it.
"It's not the robot just magically deciding to do parkour," chief technology officer Aaron Saunders said
"It's kind of a choreographed routine, much like a skateboard video, or a parkour video, where it's an athlete that's practised these moves.
"We're exploring how to push it to its limits, sometimes operating at those limits.
The behind-the-scenes peek at how the often viral videos are made shows the stumbles and fumbles that often result when making a 175cm, 75kg robot do parkour.
Atlas is used by robotics researchers to study and improve upon robotic movements, and the parkour courses are used to test new behaviours.
Previous videos have shown Atlas performing other routines (and being mercilessly bullied), and four-legged SpotMini robots managing to open closed doors.
While the routines are rehearsed and pre-programmed, Atlas has become more capable at assessing its own environment and its movements now are much more based on perception than in previous videos, Boston Dynamics said.
But in a real-world chase, humans would still have the edge over robots — for now.
