Impressive: the robot Nadya was taught to box (4 photos + 1 video)

10 December 2023

From goalkeeper to Google table tennis champion, robots are already taking the sports world by storm. It looks like the androids are now preparing to fight the boxers. In the video published by the developers, a huge robot trains with a person and delivers good blows.

The robot, called Nadya, is described as "the next generation of humanoid robotics." It is the brainchild of researchers from IHMC Robotics and Boardwalk Robotics, and is named after Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, which speaks to the main goal of the development - achieving human range of motion.

One of the most complex humanoid robots has 29 joints, allowing it to perform a wide range of different movements. The video demonstrates this using boxing as an example. The researcher remotely controls the robot using a virtual reality headset and controllers. The developers claim that in the future it could become completely autonomous.

In the comments, many expressed their admiration for Nadya’s skill:

"Amazing work... the revolution has begun."

"A great first step towards complete autonomy and freedom (for Nadia, of course)"

"Finally something original! No more lasers and self-propelled guns, now robots will just punch you in the face!"

However, skeptics expressed concerns:

"So, let's start teaching robots how to fight. This won't end well."

"Wait until the robot gains sentience and hits you for real."

"They tricked us into training them to fight. It's already started."

The IHMC Robotics team explains that its main goal is to develop “highly mobile ground robots capable of operating in enclosed spaces where stairs, stepladders and obstructions require the robot to have the same range of motion as a human.”

Thus, Nadya will be able to help in many areas, including firefighting, disaster relief, and bomb disposal. With the right set of capabilities, a robot will be able to work like a human, and people will not have to put themselves in danger.