A team of robots from Boston Dynamics, each with four legs, made an appearance on “America’s Got Talent” where they performed a choreographed dance to the iconic Queen song “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
The robots’ performance was engaging enough to receive four “yes” votes from the judges. However, one of the five robots experienced technical difficulties and stopped functioning in the middle of the routine. Despite this, the remaining four robots continued with the performance, showcasing their ability to adapt to unexpected situations.
Following the performance, judge Simon Cowell shared his thoughts, saying, “Can I be honest with you? I don’t mean this in a cruel way, but it was strangely more impressive that one of them malfunctioned… because it highlighted the complexity of the task.” Cowell’s statement underscores the value of witnessing the limitations and potential failures of technology, as it provides a deeper understanding of its capabilities.
For a long time, Boston Dynamics maintained a tight-lipped approach regarding the mishaps of its robots, portraying them as flawless and futuristic machines. However, a few years ago, the company decided to share footage that reveals the meticulous engineering required to create the impressive videos that often go viral. This footage showcases the challenges and failures that the robots face during the development process.
Boston Dynamics acknowledged the risks of pushing its robots to their limits, stating in a blog post, “A natural consequence of pushing robots to their limit is that, sometimes, those limits are met.” This statement was made in reference to the company’s Atlas robots, which would often lose balance and fall while attempting parkour maneuvers.
In an unexpected turn of events, the imperfect performance of the robots on television might prove to be more memorable than a flawless, yet robotic, dance routine. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the infamous deflated Pikachu incident, which became an enduring meme. The robots’ malfunction might ultimately contribute to their charm and make their performance more relatable and endearing to the audience.
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