Boston Dynamics' Legged & Wheeled "Handle" Robot Leaps Over Obstacles
Boston Dynamics' wheeled 'Handle' robot can operate in tough environments - in the snow and over uneven terrain. The 6.5-foot-tall robot moves at 9 mph on wheels and can manage four-foot vertical jumps. Wheels work efficiently on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere, so the robot can have the best of both worlds. Once charged up on electric power, Handle can travel about 15 miles. It's equipped with both electric and hydraulic actuators. The research robot only has 10 actuated joints, which allows for a simpler design and easier production if the robot was ever to be produced at scale.