Cheaper Boston Dynamics robot combines legs with wheels

Robot maker Boston Dynamics showed a video of a new robot at a meeting. It’s a cheaper variant of the humanoid robots the company previously made, with wheels attached to the legs.

The new prototype is called Handle, because the robot can handle different types of objects. Marc Raibert, founder of Boston Dynamics, says it’s an experiment to see if a robot can be made that, while having less freedom of movement than the fully humanoid models, is also cheaper.

Because the robot has wheels instead of feet, it can move faster on a flat surface. Handle can also be seen maintaining a rough terrain. The demonstration video also shows how the robot manages to remain stable under all kinds of circumstances and when making different movements. The robot works completely wirelessly and remains on its legs by shifting its weight.

Boston Dynamics has not yet disclosed anything about the prototype, but someone who was present at the presentation put the video online. He states that Boston Dynamics has asked him to make the segment in which the new robot can be seen unrecognizable. So far this has not been answered.

After the presentation of Handle Raibert demonstrates the SpotMini on stage. The company already posted a video of this four-legged robot with a long extendable neck in June last year.