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Engineers "Bully" Robot

Well, it's not nice to bully a robot - especially a new version that's getting rave reviews for its abilities.

Jeanne Moos reports why it had to get poked, shoved and teased - to show off those abilities.


   --REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
IT'S A WOW MOMENT...
FOR ROBOT FANS. AN IMPRESSIVE NEW VERSION OF THE ATLAS ROBOT IS UNVEILED...
AND WHAT STEALS THE LIMELIGHT?
ROBOT ABUSE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST PHYSICAL,
BUT MENTAL TORTURE.
BY HOCKEY STICK.  TAUNTED AND TEASED...THIS AFTER DOING SUCH A NICE JOB OF LIFTING BOXES. TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT, I'M OUTTA HERE. NO WONDER ATLAS FANS VISUALIZED ROBOT REVENGE SCENARIOS.
AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THE HIGHLY REGARDED ROBOT DESIGN COMPANY BOSTON DYNAMICS HAS MISTREATED ONE OF ITS CREATIONS.
(Trevor Noah, Host, The Daily Show) "why do you "ahhhh" it's a robot?"
(Jeanne Moos, New York) "actually there is a perfectly good reason for this robot abuse."
WHEN MOST ROBOTS FALL DOWN, THEY CAN'T GET BACK UP. THEY OFTEN HAVE TO BE CARRIED OFF FOR REPAIR.
BUT WHEN THE NEW ATLAS WAS FORCED TO FACEPLANT.
WATCH IT GET BACK ON ITS FEET.
AND THOUGH IT STUMBLES THROUGH THE SNOW LIKE BIGFOOT, IT NEVER LOSES ITS BALANCE ON THE UNEVEN TERRAIN.
(Jeanne Moos, New York) "lest you think the engineers are just brutal bullies lacking any sense of humor."
THIS WAS LAST YEAR'S CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM BOSTON DYNAMICS. EVEN IF THEIR ROBOTS AREN'T LAUGHING ALL THE WAY.
JEANNE MOOS CNN NEW YORK

Instructional Links

Website: Boston Dynamics

http://www.bostondynamics.com/index.html

Website: Robot Shop, How to Make a Robot

http://www.robotshop.com/blog/en/robots/gorobotics/tutorials/how-to-make-a-robot

Lesson Plan: What is a Robot?

http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eng06.sci.engin.design.lp_robot/what-is-a-robot/