Humans are becoming more like robots thanks to bionics. Conversely, advances in robotics are resulting in robots being able to perform human-like functions. Rollin’ Justin is one of the latest of such robots, created by the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics. It (he?) is able to catch two balls thrown towards it simultaneously, AND can make coffee!
When you think about it, catching a ball flying towards you is actually a really impressive feat. Our brain automatically detects where the ball is, judges its trajectory, and we move our hands and body into the correct position to catch it, making sure to close our fingers around the ball once it has landed in our hands. It may seem like an easy task for most, and that’s the beauty of the human brain and body. However, it’s an incredibly difficult task for a robot to complete, due to the large amount of information the robot is required to rapidly process.
The video does an excellent job of explaining what is going on, and highlights the importance of pairing the performing hardware with intelligent software to create a truly versatile machine.
Amazing stuff. Onwards!
