Boston Dynamics robots are learning how to run outside and navigate autonomously

[Zero-Point]

We also have a lot more joints than most robots do. Asimo and Atlas have joints in their shoulders to allow for a more free range of motion than other robots, but they don't have the same shoulder arrangement that we do, we're far more "segmented". Not only can we rotate our shoulders, but we can move them forwards and backwards. We have articulated spines (of which there's a few prototypes I've seen of robot spines, but to my knowledge they basically just hang around and haven't actually walked or anything yet), we have an incredibly mobile pelvis, etc. Engineering costs and complexity is the biggest obstacle here, not necessarily if it's soft or not.

[SKS]

It would be unreasonable and arguably impossible to get that articulation with rigid systems.

[Zero-Point]

Our skeleton is pretty much completely rigid, it's our joints that have any pliability, and even then it's not much when you think about it.

[SKS]

fascinating

Also all of our other soft tissues, for locomotion primarily muscles and tendons (IE your own shoulder blade example)

Completely incorrect, and even if it were only a little pliability it's still some, which changes the way the structure fundamentally functions and is designed.

[CyclonatorZ]

Hm, looks like they're a long way off from the robot jumping obstacles without it having to come to a dead stop and analyze the situation for a few seconds. Still really impressive, though.

[DOG-GY]

its just pausing for dramatic effect like the terminator would