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New moa-like robot glides around, working in warehouse

March 30, 2019

A new robot with a striking resemblance to a moa bird is has been designed to lighten the load of workers in warehouses.

The machine, called Handle, is a mobile manipulation robot designed by Boston Dynamics for logistics.

The six-foot tall machine weighs more than 100kg and features a counterweight on the rear which moves dynamically.

The company has also developed other robots that run and manoeuvre like animals. In recent years, the tech company, owned by Japan's SoftBank Group, has released videos showing dog-like robots unloading dishwashers and climbing stairs.

"We pride ourselves in building machines that both break boundaries and work in the real world," its website says.

This week, the company released a YouTube video showcasing its new robot - one that takes on the appearance of a Moa - a giant flightless bird which was found in New Zealand hundreds of years ago.

The video shows the robot gliding around on wheels, picking up and moving large boxes.

"Handle is a robot that combines the rough-terrain capability of legs with the efficiency of wheels," a description on the company's website says.

"Handle can pick up heavy loads while occupying a small footprint, allowing it to manoeuvre in tight spaces."

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