(Credit: Boston Dynamics)
The Atlas robot from Boston Dynamics is perhaps best known for pulling all kinds of stunts—from nailing a backflip to performing parkour. However, the company has decided to replace the original Atlas bot with a new and improved model.
The new Atlas drops the liquid pressure-based hydraulics to become a fully electric machine. A short teaser video shows the bot rising from the floor and walking off. That's all we get in the demo clip, but Boston Dynamics appears confident enough in the new Atlas' abilities that it's preparing to commercialize the robot. In a blog post, the company says Hyundai—a company investor—will pilot Atlas at the automaker’s next-generation factories.
Boston Dynamics adds: “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.”
The new Atlas is stronger and capable of a larger range of motions compared to the old model. It can “move in ways that exceed human capabilities,” the robot maker says.
"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,” Boston Dynamics adds.
Regarding commercialization, Boston Dynamics didn’t give a specific launch date. Instead, the company says it’ll first partner with a small group of “innovative customers,” such as Hyundai, to test and improve Atlas over the next few years.
The robot maker is preparing to support the new Atlas with plenty of software so companies can integrate the humanoid machine into their work environments. Several other companies, including Tesla and Figure, are also developing humanoid robots that could one day replace human jobs.
Boston Dynamics didn't fully address Atlas's potential to take over certain jobs. But the company's blog post notes: "We are confident in our ability to deliver a robot uniquely capable of tackling dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks in real applications."