Alphabet's Schaft unveils bipedal robot that climbs stairs

When people think of bipedal robots, they usually have something humanoid in mind. But Alphabet subsidiary Schaft thinks of something different.

The Japan robotics company publicly showed off its two-legged robot that is quite different from efforts that have come before it, but it appears much more practical. The challenge with bipedal robots has traditionally been enabling them to get around obstacles. The Schaft robot, however, is able to climb stairs and move through rough terrain, including land covered in rocks or sand.

It turns out the trick to getting a bipedal robot to climb stairs efficiently is not by equipping it with joints similar to humans. The legs on Schaft’s robot are rigid and they slide up and down. It also appears to be quite strong, as it is shown in a video carrying a relatively large dumbbell weight at one point. Nothing else about the robot’s ability to pick up, carry or deliver objects is shown, though.

Alphabet’s X division, which houses the company’s robotics efforts, made it clear in a statement to IEEE Spectrum that the Schaft robot’s public debut “was not a product announcement or indication of a specific product roadmap.” There have been some questions about what Alphabet is hoping to gain with its robotics companies since it was reported that Boston Dynamics would be sold because of a lack of marketable product or a solid plan that would get it there. Schaft’s new robot certainly seems promising in its capability, but no practical use is on display in the demonstration.

Still, bipedal robots have been part of the industry dream for many years. Schaft is bringing the robotics space closer to the right direction, even if practical applications are not yet clear. Most bipedal robots coming out of China today belong to the humanoid and interactive variety. These robots are currently targeting markets for more practical use such as education.