Boston Dynamics has introduced a new, all-electric version of its humanoid machine. Announcement of the next-generation Atlas robot comes a day after the robotics company announced it was retiring its hydraulic Atlas robot.
The Massachusetts-based company revealed Atlas in 2013 as part of a contest for the Department of Defense. In its very first iteration, the hopping, jumping, and twirling robot stood six feet, two inches tall and weighed 330 pounds. In a video posted on April 16, the robotics company says it’s time for Atlas to “kick back and relax” in retirement, letting the new all-electric Atlas take the reins.
Boston Dynamics wanted the new version to show that Atlas can keep a humanoid form without limiting “how a bipedal robot can move.” The new version has been redesigned with swiveling joints that the company claims make it “uniquely capable of tackling dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks.”
“We designed the electric version of Atlas to be stronger, more dexterous, and more agile,” the company said in its press release. “Atlas may resemble a human form factor, but we are equipping the robot to move in the most efficient way possible to complete a task, rather than being constrained by a human range of motion. Atlas will move in ways that exceed human capabilities.”
The video starts with Atlas lying in a cadaver-like fashion on the floor before it swiftly folds its legs backward over its body, rises to a standing position, and marches toward the camera.
"We are unveiling the next generation of humanoid robots -- a fully electric Atlas robot designed for real-world applications," the company writes in the video description. "The new Atlas builds on decades of research and furthers our commitment to delivering the most capable, useful mobile robots solving the toughest challenges in industry today: with Spot, with Stretch, and now with Atlas."
With a design similar to bipedal robots like Tesla’s Optimus, the new Atlas now has longer limbs, a straighter back, and a distinct “head” that can swivel around as needed. There are no cables in sight, and its “face” includes a built-in ring light. It is a marked improvement on its predecessor and now features a bunch of Boston Dynamics’ new AI and machine learning tools.
Boston Dynamics said it’s continuing to build on capabilities already achieved with the last generation hydraulic Atlas model, such as lifting and maneuvering objects, alongside exploring “several new gripper variations” to ready the robot for a range of different industry environments.
The company bucked its own trend by maintaining the research name for a product it's taking commercial. SpotMini became Spot. Handle became Stretch. For now, however, Atlas is still Atlas.
“We might revisit this when we really get ready to build and deliver in quantity,” Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter reportedly said. “But I think for now, maintaining the branding is worthwhile.”
WATCH Boston Dynamics' farewell to hydraulic Atlas robot and introduction of its new all-electric version.