DARPA’s ‘Atlas’ robot performs Karate, hopefully roundhouse kicks ASIMO in the face after patch

Roboticists from the Institute of Human Learning and Machine Cognition (IHMC) have programmed DARPA’s Atlas robot to perform the crane kick, a supposedly-Karate move that was unofficially trademarked by the cheesy North American 80’s movie The Karate Kid . The 6-foot-2 and 330 pound robot named “Ian” — like some sort of naughty British teenager — can be seen in the video below balancing on a cinder block  with one foot as it winds into position.

Lower the volume when viewing the video to avoid the loud background noise

The bipedal robot hasn’t successfully managed to jump and kick simultaneously — but that’s beside the point — what is impressive is the robot’s ability to perfectly balance while repeatedly performing the crane-like stance without ever losing balance. Note that the cable briefly spotted above Ian’s head is not what gives the machine its balance, but rather the source of its power. 

Atlas was constructed by Boston Dynamics, the same firm responsible for the infamous grenade and cinderblock-lopping BigDog robot; although Ian can’t throw things (yet), it can certainly climb rough terrain and “see” using a laser rangefinder and range cameras. In other words, probably kill you in your sleep.

Google’s acquisition of Boston Dynamics in 2013, and DeepMind, an artificial intelligence company, in 2014 hints of the company’s future plans to manufacture the soldiers that will fight in tomorrow’s wars.