Boston Dynamics’ New Robot, Atlas, Showcases Flexibility and Fully Electric Operation

Boston Dynamics recently introduced a new fully electric humanoid robot known as Atlas, retiring its hydraulic version of the same robot the day before. The company stated that it is looking into potential commercial applications for the new Atlas, with Hyundai being the first recipient. Boston Dynamics aims to showcase the robot’s capabilities in various settings, including labs, factories, and everyday life.

The electric version of Atlas is designed to be more robust, more agile, and more versatile than its predecessors. The robot is built to move efficiently and effectively to complete tasks, without being limited by human range of motion. A video released by Boston Dynamics demonstrates Atlas going from a lying position to standing upright, showcasing its agility and movement capabilities.

In addition to Atlas, Boston Dynamics has also introduced Spot, a four-legged doglike robot that some police departments are starting to utilize. Spot robots have been trained to paint by an artist-in-residence at SpaceX, leading to an art exhibit featuring the robots. The influence of Atlas can even be seen in Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, with Boston Dynamics founder Marc Raibert acknowledging that Atlas may have served as inspiration for the creation of the Tesla Bot.