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Google-owned Boston Dynamics debuts new video of Atlas robot mimicking ‘The Karate Kid’

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Google-owned robotics lab Boston Dynanics has debuted new video of its 6’2″ Atlas robot, also known as “Ian.” The hulking mass of metal, which weighs a whopping 330 lbs, has been programmed to recreate a key scene from the 1984 film The Karate Kid.

Ian is part of an ongoing robotics project that seeks to create automatons that can replace humans in hazardous roles like firefighting. Ian has already demonstrated a variety of abilities, including traversing difficult and uneven terrain, carrying objects such as firehoses, and even to get into a car and drive it. It can also use both its hands and feet to climb over the most treacherous obstacles.

Ian’s head is made up of two cameras and a laser rangefinder that provide it with the necessary depth perception to accomplish many tasks that most other robots simply wouldn’t be able to. It can turn its head to get a better view of its surroundings. It has a total of 28 moveable joints throughout its body.

Image via Daily Mail

Image via Daily Mail

The Atlas robot is powered by an electric generator that must be near the robot and connected through a cable. However, Boston Dynamics has said that this restriction will eventually be able to be eliminated. The Atlas model was originally revealed in 2013 and has received several major upgrades since then.

You can check out the full video of Ian recreating the Karate Kid scene below. A word of caution: you may want to turn your speakers down before hitting play.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH0k2hFHzyc]

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