Anderson Cooper gets a behind-the-scenes look at dancing robots on '60 Minutes'
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Anderson Cooper got a rare behind-the-scenes look at Boston Dynamics on 60 Minutes Sunday. Boston Dynamics has become known in recent years for releasing videos of increasingly advanced robots, mostly human-like and dog-like, both of which, as it turns out, can dance. Both types of robots, along with another that in no way resembles a living being, cut a rug to “Do You Love Me” by The Contours. But as entertaining as it is to watch the robots dance, Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert explained that it’s not all about fun. But still kind of about fun.
“What's the point in proving that the robot can do the Mashed Potato?” Cooper asked. “This process of, you know, doing new things with the robots lets you generate new tools,” Raibert replied, “new approaches, new understanding of the problem. That takes you forward, but, man, isn't it just fun?”
Video Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDERSON COOPER: There are some people who see that and say, that can't be real.
MARC RAIBERT: Nothing is more gratifying than hearing that.
- On "60 Minutes," Sunday, Anderson Cooper got a look behind the scenes at Boston Dynamics, the robotics manufacturer responsible for producing increasingly advanced robots. And Cooper learned that these robots got rhythm.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDERSON COOPER: All their robots got in on the act.
- Reaction to the dancing robots was mostly positive. One viewer tweeted, "these robots dancing is hilarious and impressive." While another tweeted, "These robots dancing on '60 Minutes is freaking me out for some reason." And Boston Dynamics founder, Marc Raibert, explained the reason for the dancing.
ANDERSON COOPER: What's the point in proving that the robot can do the Mashed Potato?
MARC RAIBERT: This process of doing new things with the robots lets you generate new tools, new approaches, new understanding of the problem that takes you for it. But man, isn't it just fun?
- But not all robots were built with the dexterity to dance the Mashed Potato.
ANDERSON COOPER: Failure is a big part of the process. When trying something new, robots, like humans, don't get it right every time. It might be dozens of crashes for every one success.
