Oops! Embarrassing moment Boston Dynamic’s 6 foot tall ATLAS humanoid robot falls off stage during a talk to show how much it has improved

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It was supposed to be a demonstration of just how much Boston Dynamic's six foot tall humanoid robot has improved.

Instead, the latest test of the machine's prowess descended into disaster when it fell off the stage at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders conference in Massachusetts.

The fall promoted staff to rush to its aid, and followed a series of previous blunders that saw it trip repeatedly during a recent 'Robot Olympics' event. 

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Atlas was being shown off with SpotMini, another robot from Boston Dynamics.

The firm was previously owned by Google's Alphabet and was recently acquired by Softbank for an undisclosed amount in December 2016.

Softbank also purchased humanoid AI specialist company Schaft around the same time in another Alphabet deal.

During the presentation, Atlas' was tasked with using its computer vision and arms to find and move objects while SpotMini - which was being controlled by a human - pulled the target object away to increase difficulty and prompt Atlas to repeat the task.

During the presentation, Atlas' was tasked with using its computer vision and arms to find and move objects while SpotMini - which was being controlled by a human - would pull the target object away to increase difficulty and prompt Atlas to repeat the task

After Boston Dynamics founder and CEO Marc Raibert and the rest of the team were done toying with the robot, it successfully picked up the box to a standing ovation

After Boston Dynamics founder and CEO Marc Raibert and the rest of the team were done toying with the robot, it successfully picked up the box, to a standing ovation.

But then when the robot went to make its human-controlled grand exit from the stage, it fell off to the shock of many.

Team members from Boston Dynamics rushed to pick up the robot.

The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders conference took place between June 29 and July 1 at the Tsongas Center at UMass in Lowell, Massachusetts, but the video has just started gaining attention online after being posted to Reddit.

Users on the site upvoted the video to the front page of the Robotics subreddit and joked about the fall.

'Poor lil' feller,' wrote user.

Another suggested we may not want to taunt such an advanced robot, writing: 'We laugh now, but payback's a b*tch.' 

The humanoid robot walked off the side of the stage at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders conference during what was supposed to be a live presentation showing off the machine's new and improved abilities

Others pointed out that you can't really blame the robot this time around, since a human was controlling it at the time of the fall. 

'More like 'human drives robot off stage because he forgets stairs are off by one,' wrote one.

'As someone who's done a few robotics demos, that operator must still have bad dreams about that,' commented another.

'Usually people laugh it off if it's a good work environment, but being so close to the end of the demo and just messing up at the very end has got to sting a bit.' 

Last month, a story about Steve the suicidal robot that 'drowned' in a Washington D.C. fountain went viral

Last month, a story about Steve the suicidal robot that 'drowned' in a Washington D.C. fountain went viral.

It turns out the roboguard was not a victim of suicide or foul play and instead took a tumble after skidding on a 'loose brick surface,' according to its manufacturer. 

This is not the first big fall for Atlas. 

In 2015, Atlas competed in what is called the 'Robot-Olympics', where the world's most advanced robots compete in a series of challenging events.

The robot publicly fell walking over tricky terrain, going tumbling down after taking just one step.

In 2015, Atlas competed in what is called the 'Robot-Olympics', where the world's most advanced robots compete in a series of challenging events. IHMC watched as Atlas walked over the tricky terrain, but, without the new algorithm, the humanoid went tumbling down after taking just one step

Since that gaffe and despite the latest, Boston Dynamics has improved its humanoid to accomplish more human like skills, even enabling it to easily get up on its own if it falls.

This a skill that was missing during the Robo-Olympics, as a crane was required to life the machine upright.

With this recent fall, members from the Boston Dynamics team picked it up quickly to save face.

The new wireless version was shown being pushed over by an employee, falling face down on the ground, but this time, it was able to get back up on its own

The new version of Atlas that can pick itself up has been shown being pushed over by an employee - and simply getting back up.  

The video about the next generation of the robot also shows it walking out of the firm's office and across a snowy plateau.

While losing its footing several times, it corrects itself and stays upright.

It is also shown moving 10 kg boxes with ease in a tight space. 

The improvements came after Atlas was upgraded with an algorithm that makes the humanoid better balance itself while traveling over more confusing terrain like stones and rocks.

The new addition comes from the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, who say the robot is able to find a solid foothold by shifting the weight of its outstretched foot on the edge of a support. 

Google's Boston Dynamics Atlas has been upgraded with an algorithm that makes the humanoid better balance itself while traversing small stepping stones and rocks. Atlas can be seen standing with its arms stretched out to its side in a video, as it treks over the terrain

Atlas can also be seen standing with its arms stretched out to its side in the video, as it treks over the unstable terrain - just like a human would who is trying to keep their balance.

'The Atlas Humanoid walking over small and partial footholds such as small stepping stones or line contacts,' the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) shared in a video showcasing Atlas's new talent.

'After each step the robot explores the new foothold by shifting its weight around its foot.'

'To maintain balance we combine fast, dynamics stepping with the use of angular momentum (lunging of the upper body).' 

The robot boasts 28 hydraulically-operated joints and stereo vision, making it one of the most advanced robots ever created.

On its website, Boston Dynamics said: 'Atlas can walk bipedally leaving the upper limbs free to lift, carry, and manipulate the environment. 

The short clip shows the humanoid standing on a stack of cinder blocks that are placed near a pit filled with rocks and other blocks.

The short clip shows the humanoid standing on a stack of cinder blocks that are placed near a pit filled with rocks and other blocks. The robot is controlled by a human, but it is not simply a matter of using a joystick to control the robot

Atlas stretches its right foot out onto one of the cinder blocks that sits at an angle in the pit, moves it around to see if its footing is stable and when it believes it has good balance, the robot extends its left foot to an adjacent block.

The robot is controlled by a human, but it is not simply a matter of using a joystick to control the robot. 

'To balance and walk it is helpful to have an estimate of the current support polygon as the area where the CoP (Center of Pressure) can be placed,' IHMC writes in the study published in the journal arXiv.

'While walking over uncertain terrain, the new foothold is explored after each step.'

'If there is no additional information about the foothold available we start by assuming the full foot to be in contact with the ground.'

Atlas stretches its right foot out onto one of the cinder blocks that sits at an angle in the pit, moves it around to see if its footing is stable and when it believes it has good balance, the robot extends its left foot to an adjacent block

The team also explains that the incorporation of angular momentum, as Atlas heaves up its torso when moving its leg at an angle, allows the robot to exhibit 'human like balancing motions'

IHMC explains that Atlas will begin to shift its local foot, the first one it uses to take a stop, CoP around within the foothold.

If it feels comfortable with the CoP in the area of its foot that is on the ground, it will then lift the other foot to another spot.

However, it is when the robot 'thinks' it is not well balanced will it rotate about the edge of the support – in this case it is a cinder block.

The team also explains that the incorporation of angular momentum, as Atlas heaves up its torso when moving its leg at an angle, allows the robot to exhibit 'human like balancing motions'.

'This is an important step in the effort of making legged robots useful in real world scenarios,' reads the study.

'The ability to walk on unexpected partial footholds greatly increases the robustness of a robot when employed in cluttered environments.'

'In addition it vastly extends the set of environments a robot can traverse.'  

However, over the past year Boston Dynamics has been improve its humanoid to accomplish more human like skills. Earlier this year, the robotics firm revealed it has the ability to easily get up on its own if it falls

THE 'ATLAS' ROBOT 

According to Boston Dynamics, Atlas is a 'high mobility, humanoid robot designed to negotiate outdoor, rough terrain.

'Atlas can walk bipedally leaving the upper limbs free to lift, carry, and manipulate the environment.

'In extremely challenging terrain, Atlas is strong and coordinated enough to climb using hands and feet, to pick its way through congested spaces.'