Boston Dynamics' Robots Can Probably Destroy Us All -- In A Dance Battle
Well, folks, it seems robots have proven they can show us all up in yet another one of our beloved human activities, this time, getting down on the dance floor.
Boston Dynamics, the famed robotics company behind parkouring androids and bright yellow bots that look eerily similar to the murderous "dogs" in Black Mirror's "Metalhead" episode, has managed to teach their already slightly-terrifying creations a brand new trick -- how to bust a move. On Tuesday, the MIT spin-off company released a new video to their YouTube page, depicting three of their famed robots performing a choreographed dance routine to The Contours 1962 jukebox hit, "Do You Love Me." Over the course of the nearly three-minute video, the trio shimmy and shake, smoothly executing the mashed potato, the twist, leglifts, herkie jumps, and a series of other shockingly fluid moves straight out of a 1950's television program. There is no word on whether all-robot production of Hairspray is yet in the works.
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According to The Verge, this is far from the first time these robots have attempted to dance. Back in 2018, the group released a video of Spot, their definitely-not-homicidal dog-like robot performing a routine to a cover of Bruno Mars's "Uptown Funk." While the droid's moves weren't bad per se, they were significantly stiffer, an almost inadvertent execution of, well, their eponymous dance -- the robot.
It should be noted that while the bigger, more humanoid machines appearing in the video are still prototypes, Spot is now available for sale, all for the low, low price of $74,500, although it is unclear if his killer, erm, dance floor abilities are included in this cost.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to practice my moves -- I may not be able to fight a robot when the A.I. apocalypse hits, but damn it, I at least want to beat one of them in a dance battle before I'm inevitably ray-gunned into smithereens.
For more internet nonsense, follow Carly on Instagram @HuntressThompson_ and on Twitter @TennesAnyone.
