Boston Dynamics’ ‘Atlas’ Reincarnates As Terrifyingly Flexible All-Electric Bot
Image via Boston Dynamics
Just a day after putting its iconic hydraulic Atlas humanoid robot into retirement, Boston Dynamics has announced its replacement—a fully electric innovation also named Atlas. The successor is built on decades of robotics research and experience, and is better equipped for various real-world applications. Not to mention, it’s more commercially viable.
The previous iteration of Atlas, known for its impressive athleticism and parkour skills akin to those of real people, relied on hydraulics for movement. The new electric Atlas, however, boasts a quieter, more efficient electric system.
The electric Atlas is designed to be stronger, more agile, and more dexterous than its predecessor. While the robot maintains a vaguely humanoid form, unlike older Atlas, its movements prioritize efficiency over mimicking human actions, giving it the ability to perform tasks more creatively without being stunted by the constraints of human anatomy. Just about every part of young Atlas can be swiveled, from its limbs to its head. Just look:
Those expecting to see the robot stand up like, you know, a regular human being would be in for a shock, with viewers likening its behavior to something straight out of an “exorcism.”
“How do we ensure the public has a positive first impression of him? Make him stand up in the most disturbing way possible,” one person writes.
“Imagine thinking you’ve killed the final boss and he gets back up like THIS,” says another.
Others point out that the all-electric Atlas looks like “if the lamp from Pixar got a body.”
Boston Dynamic just unveiled their newest Atlas robot. This is not a render. Oh my god
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) April 17, 2024
It's giving "call an ambulance... but not for me"https://t.co/mPUKDlW7WY pic.twitter.com/el3DKlTJT5
the video for the new electric Atlas from Boston Dynamics is ... quite something. practically, it's showing off how human-shaped robots are not limited by the human body's degrees of freedom, but it feels like a videogame introduction to a robot bossfight pic.twitter.com/8OvLTFsUZ0
— James Vincent (@jjvincent) April 17, 2024
To further enhance its versatility, Boston Dynamics is developing a suite of interchangeable grippers, allowing Atlas to handle diverse manipulation needs in customer environments.
The robotics firm has partnered with select innovative companies, including major investor Hyundai, to test and refine Atlas applications in the coming years. Hyundai is also looking to build the next generation of car manufacturing—a perfect testing ground for the powerful new Atlas.
“In the months and years ahead, we’re excited to show what the world’s most dynamic humanoid robot can really do—in the lab, in the factory, and in our lives,” Boston Dynamics teases.
THIS. This is how the robots take over.
[via VentureBeat and Ars Technica, cover image via Boston Dynamics]
