science

Boston Dynamics' robots twist and mash potato as they dance to The Contour's 'Do You Love Me'


Boston Dynamics typically shares videos of its robots climbing stairs, jumping onto blocks or carrying heavy objects, but the latest clip involves the crew showing off their dance moves.

Set to The Contours ‘Do You Love Me,’ the choreographed dance features humanoid Atlas, Spot the robot dog and box-juggling Handle.

The two minute and 53 second clip shows the robots shaking, twisting and even doing the mashed potato in sequence to the beat of the 1962 hit single.

Comments on the YouTube video, which has been viewed more than 470,000 times since being posted Tuesday evening, are revealing in the amazing dance moves – with some saying the robots can dance better than most humans.

And even Elon Musk, SpaceX and Tesla CEO, was left in awe after seeing the clip and shared his excitement on Twitter.

‘This is not CGI,’ the tech tycoon posted. 

Boston Dynamics typically shares videos of its robots climbing stairs, jumping onto blocks or carrying heavy objects, but the latest clips involves the crew showing off their dance moves

Boston Dynamics typically shares videos of its robots climbing stairs, jumping onto blocks or carrying heavy objects, but the latest clips involves the crew showing off their dance moves

Boston Dynamics took the world by storms when it began operations in 2009, which led to its human-like Atlas in 2013 and then its Spot Classic in 2015.

The firm has since been working tirelessly to create life-like, powerful and strong robots designed for the commercial industry.

However, its typical research is focused on making its machines tough, flexible and able to stand on their own two feet, or four, but the latest video ‘Do You Love Me’ shows a celebratory side of the robotics firm.

‘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,’ reads the YouTube video caption.

Even Elon Musk, SpaceX and Tesla CEO, was left in awe after seeing the clip and shared his excitement on Twitter. ‘This is not CGI,’ the tech tycoon posted

Even Elon Musk, SpaceX and Tesla CEO, was left in awe after seeing the clip and shared his excitement on Twitter. ‘This is not CGI,’ the tech tycoon posted

Set to The Contours ‘Do You Love Me,’ the choreographed dance features humanoid Atlas, robot dog Spot (right) and box-juggling Handle (left)

Set to The Contours ‘Do You Love Me,’ the choreographed dance features humanoid Atlas, robot dog Spot (right) and box-juggling Handle (left)

Atlas, according to the company, is a ‘high mobility, humanoid robot designed to negotiate outdoor, rough terrain’.

Atlas measures four feet nine inches tall and weighs more than 165 pounds.

The humanoid walks on two legs, leaving its arms free to lift, carry and manipulate objects in its environment.

Boston Dyanimcs has shared a number of videos of Atlas that include it being hit with metal bars by engineers to perfect its stability or doing parkour.

Atlas has shown it is capable of performing gymnastics, but this is the robots first dance recital.

However, the infamous robot dog Spot is no stranger to the dance floor.

The two minute and 53 second clip shows the robots shaking, umping, twisting and even doing the mashed potato in sequence to the beat of the 1962 hit single

The two minute and 53 second clip shows the robots shaking, umping, twisting and even doing the mashed potato in sequence to the beat of the 1962 hit single

Comments on the YouTube video, which has been viewed more than 470,000 times since being posted Tuesday evening, are revealing in the amazing dance moves – with some saying the robots can dance better than most humans

Comments on the YouTube video, which has been viewed more than 470,000 times since being posted Tuesday evening, are revealing in the amazing dance moves – with some saying the robots can dance better than most humans

The four-legged machine showed the world its dance moves in 2018 to Bruno Mars’ hit ‘Uptown Funk.’

In the minute-long clip, Spot can be seen stepping and moving almost perfectly in time with the music.

He shimmies back and forth across the floor, while snapping his claw hand to the tune.

At one point, he even twerks his rear-end up and down, then moonwalks.

‘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,’ reads the YouTube video caption

‘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,’ reads the YouTube video caption

Since showing off its twerking moves, Spot has since moved on to bigger and better roles – it has helped doctors battling the coronavirus and is patrolling Musk’s testing facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

Atlas and Spot have been walking around for years, but Boston Dynamics’ latest creation has only been alive for one year.

The machine is called Handle and balances on two wheels while lifting boxes and loading pallets in a factory setting.

And although Handle has been overshadowed by its predecessors, it made its dancing debut in the ‘Do You Love Me’ video.

While the Atlas and Handle robots featured here still in prototype stages, Spot is being sold to companies willing to dish out $74,500 for a single unit.

Although Boston Dynamics has pumped anywhere from thousands to millions into building its robots, the firm has yet to turn a profit.

It was, however, acquired by Hyundai Motor Group from SoftBank in a $1.1 billion deal earlier this month.



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