In a groundbreaking development, Boston Dynamics has retired its iconic humanoid robot HD Atlas after 11 years of service and introduced its successor – the new, all-electric Atlas.
The retirement ceremony marked the end of an era for the famous robot, known for its parkour skills, dancing moves, and flips.
On Wednesday, Boston Dynamics showcased their latest creation in a video on X, revealing a humanoid named Atlas. Unlike HD Atlas, which was hydraulically powered, the new Atlas boasts electric motors and superior strength. The robot can now stand up completely from a prone position without rolling or using its arms to push itself up.
The unique method of getting up has sparked unease among some viewers. Instead of mimicking human movements, Atlas bends its legs backward, with knee and hip joints rotating nearly all the way around, then pushes itself up as its body unfurls. The head turns 180 degrees towards the camera while the robot walks backwards.
Boston Dynamics’ CEO Robert Palter clarified that the intent behind creating Atlas was not to replicate human-like movements. Based on the video presentation, it appears that the company has successfully achieved this goal.
Atlas joins Boston Dynamics’ existing robots, Spot and Stretch, as a new fully-electric addition capable of tackling hard tasks. Hyundai is reportedly investing in the engineering and robotics company to support testing and development for Atlas.
The ultimate objective for Atlas is to become an improved version of HD Atlas, with increased lifting capacity and enhanced gripper technologies.
The announcement comes shortly after Boston Dynamics retired HD Atlas in a humorous YouTube video.
Creating a robot that mimics human features makes navigating our world easier for the machine.
Though structurally similar to a human, the primary goal for Atlas is to move more efficiently and effectively in real-world scenarios. It is looking eerily similar to the Robots in I-Robot the movie. How long until these all electric units are capable of charging themselves and performing manual labor, even skilled manual labor. Not long.
