Boston Dynamics’ new humanoid strikes like no robotic you’ve ever seen

Enlarge / The brand new, all-electric Atlas. (credit score: Boston Dynamics)

The humanoid robotics market is beginning to warmth up, and the corporate that is been doing this the longest is not going to take a seat by and watch. Boston Dynamics has a brand new humanoid robotic that the corporate says represents a path to commercialization. It is the corporate’s next-generation, all-electric “Atlas” robotic.

Whereas new Atlas and previous Atlas share a reputation, they could not be extra completely different on the subject of building. The previous Atlas—a analysis platform and viral sensation that would deal with almost any terrain, do backflips, and choose up heavy objects—was powered by a heavy, difficult hydraulics system. The brand new Atlas is all-electric and appears prefer it’s a fraction of the scale and weight of the hydraulic model. It additionally seems like a product, with covers round all the foremost elements and consumer-friendly design touches like an enormous standing mild within the head and a light-up energy button that appears prefer it was ripped proper from the Spot meeting line.

Hydraulic Atlas is being retired to make method for the all-electric model. The corporate posted one final goodbye video for the hydraulic mannequin on its YouTube web page, displaying the historical past of the mission. Atlas has completed a whole lot of neat tips through the years, however getting there has required a whole lot of studying—a part of that’s taking some completely gnarly slams, that are highlighted within the video. The video appeared to exit of its solution to present simply how cumbersome hydraulics may be. At one level, it seems like Atlas’ foot utterly breaks off, and hydraulic fluid gushes everywhere in the flooring. Different instances, the robotic simply springs a leak, and a positive mist of high-pressure fluid sprays all over the place because the robotic goes limp. The fluid has a crimson tinge to it, so with a bit creativeness, it will probably look fairly gory!