A Compilation of Robots Falling Down at the DARPA Robotics Challenge

During a dry run before the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, not many robots fell over, so we went into Day 1 thinking that falls would be rare. They weren’t, and the possibility of falls kept everyone watching on the edge of our seats.

Edited by Erico Guizzo/IEEE Spectrum
Footage courtesy of DARPA

[lgnlint]

It's weird to think that this will be shown in the future the same way those old films of people experimenting with different flying machines is.

[danielholtzman]

Really makes you realize just how incredible even insect locomotion/movement is.

[mikestoneadfjgs]

Anybody else think these robots walk like incredibly drunk people?

[Centuries_of_Nope]

0:57 Robot: "Screw this, I'm out."

[Diani]

It's amazing that in 3 short years we have gone from this video to Atlas sticking backflips and doing parkour

[RobertoMariani]

Looking at these robots miserably failing the DARPA challenge makes the successful ones even more commendable!

[DCdabest]

I like how they a lot of them just slump into a wriggling heap.
Like the sheer embarrassment of falling over just defeats them on some non-existent robotic emotional level.
*"Oh god I fell over! The shame!"*

[WojciechP]

As someone with a bit of experience with robotics, I can say that it won't be long before they've sobered up.

[friesmaker]

let the bodies hit the floor 
let the bodies hit the floor 
let the bodies hit the

[Teeheehee]

This is way funnier than I thought it'd be.

[Aetrion]

Somehow I can't help but think the weight distribution of those robots would be a lot better if they didn't always design them to have all the equipment on their back like a backpack, but put it in the front like a big belly. I mean, humans wouldn't have evolved to store their extra weight there if that wasn't the best place.

[adamcarroll]

Really makes ya appreciate stuff like the vestibular system alot more.

[spykerm]

0:48 Best fail with invisible handle ;-)

[musictest]

these robots really aren't qwoperating

[juicymullet]

Someone needs to add some funny music to this.

[MeinCouch]

0:57 Suicide command pressed in a source game.

[JohnKnaebel]

butter-passing robot: "what is my purpose?"
Rick: "you pass butter"
butter-passing robot: my god.."

[Ofordgabings]

So much intelligence and deliberation behind the creation of these robots, and yet they fail embarrassingly at merely walking.

How much more must be behind the human being...

[weenee]

0:57 The most advanced looking one had the worst fail.

[soldfuture_]

I just love how so of them just straight up collapse, like it was a built in feature.