12/20/2013

Unpacking DARPA’s and Google’s Robotics Interests

11:46 minutes

Engineers are developing lifelike robots that can run 29 miles per hour and walk over uneven terrain. These machines have caught the eye of the defense department, and Google. MIT Technology Review editor Will Knight reports from the sidelines of the DARPA Robotics Challenge and discusses why Google might be interested in these robots.

Watch robotics company Boston Dynamics‘ “Atlas” robot in action:

Segment Guests

Will Knight

Will Knight is news and analysis editor at MIT Technology Review in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Meet the Producer

About Alexa Lim

Alexa Lim was a senior producer for Science Friday. Her favorite stories involve space, sound, and strange animal discoveries.

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