Boston Dynamics’ Robot Not Only Runs And Jumps, But Can Now Grab And Throw

In 2021, Boston Dynamics’ impressive Atlas robot caught the eye of the public, showing off its Mission Impossible-esque moves in which the android deftly moved completed a parkour routine through an obstacle course. 

Now, in a recent video, it appears the humanoid robot has learned some new tricks, and can now use its “hands”—which look like a more advanced version of a salad tong—to grab at things independently to pick them up and toss them. 

According to TechCrunch, the recently-introduced claw-like gripper is made up of one fixed finger and one moving finger, and is designed for “heavy lifting tasks,” such as in a Super Bowl commercial when Atlas impressively lifted an entire keg over its head. 

This time around, the robot can be seen picking up a plank of wood to place in between a block and construction scaffolding. It then grabs a bag of tools before heading over the makeshift bridge, jumping up a level before tossing the package to the uppermost level. 

To round off the routine, Atlas mounts an inverted 540-degree, multi-axis flip, showing off how it is now “pushing the limits of locomotion, sensing, and athleticism,” as per the company’s description. 

At the moment, the robot still remains part of Boston Dynamics’ research, and is not available for businesses to purchase. Although, many comments have suggested it could eventually be used for tasks such as transporting airline baggage. 

[via TechCrunch and Boston Dynamics, cover image via Boston Dynamics]