DARPA Selects Boston Dynamics' Humanoid for Robotics Challenge
DARPA Selects Boston Dynamics' Humanoid for Robotics Challenge
whyps 
We're probably not looking at the final form of the DARPA robot in the case of the platforms shown in the above video. We know that in its final form, ATLAS (we're not sure that the robot that Boston Dynamics is developing for the DARPA Challenge is actually going to be called ATLAS but we'll stick with that for now) "is expected to have two arms, two legs, a torso and a head, and will be physically capable of performing all of the tasks required for the disaster response scenarios scheduled in the Challenge." These tasks include driving cars, walking across rubble, moving heavy objects, opening and closing doors and valves, using tools, and climbing ladders. Based solely on the video above, it looks like Boston Dynamics is making good progress but still has a lot of work to do.
One of the primary differences between the final platform and the existing platform is going to be the addition of a head, which will likely contain the sensors allowing for the hybrid autonomous and teleoperated control that DARPA seems to have in mind for the Challenge (stereo cameras and LIDAR). Otherwise, what you'll expect to see is a 150 kg humanoid (hard to tell if PETMAN and ATLAS are in that ballpark or not) with a pair of two or three fingered hands, and we have no idea whether Boston Dynamics will be doing those in-house or not, especially considering how many excellent grippers are already available and all the money DARPA has spent on manipulation programs.
Boston Dynamics is very well known for developing (you guessed it) dynamic robots: machines that, rather than using static techniques to control their motion, move dynamically, relying on advanced control software and high performance hydraulic actuators. PETMAN and ATLAS are no exception. The trade-off is that hydraulics generally demands a fairly beastly engine. You'll notice that the robots in the video are both tethered to off-board hydraulic power, but luckily, DARPA doesn't seem to have a problem with this.
