A U.S. company, Boston Dynamics, announced plans to upgrade its humanoid robot with a new model designed for real-world commercial and industrial applications. The company stated that its hydraulic Atlas robot model would be retired and replaced with a new fully electric Atlas robot. Boston Dynamics has been investing in humanoid robots for around 10 years and has noticed other companies entering the field during that time. They will be collaborating with Hyundai to test new applications for the Atlas model. The now-retired humanoid robot will be placed in the company’s lobby museum with other decommissioned robots.
The company released a video showcasing the impressive movement capabilities of the Atlas model in tests, as well as some of the dramatic failures it encountered. Boston Dynamics expressed gratitude for all the accomplishments made with the Atlas platform over the years. The idea of a world where robots become more advanced can be both exciting and concerning for different people. According to Stanford’s brief history of robotics, some view robots as dangerous technological advancements that could potentially lead to the downfall of humanity.
Boston Dynamics has a code of ethics that outlines principles such as trustworthiness, non-weaponization, and compliance with existing civil rights and privacy laws for its robots. The company is committed to ethical practices in the development and use of robotics technology.