Boston, Massachusetts – After 11 years of remarkable feats, Boston Dynamics bid farewell to their famous humanoid robot, HD Atlas, as it enters retirement. The iconic robot has dazzled audiences with its running, flipping, dancing, and parkour abilities. However, the company wasted no time introducing its successor: an all-electric Atlas. This new iteration boasts greater strength and a wider range of motion, surpassing its predecessor in various aspects.
One notable improvement in the new Atlas is its ability to fully stand up from a prone position, a feat that the HD Atlas could not achieve. While this advancement showcases the robot’s technological progress, some observers find the robot’s method of rising from the ground unsettling. The new Atlas demonstrates a unique technique wherein it bends its legs backward, with its knee and hip joints rotating almost 180 degrees, before pushing itself up as the rest of its body unfolds. The eerie spectacle is further heightened by the robot walking backward as its head turns towards the camera.
The unveiling of the new Atlas has generated mixed reactions, with one Reddit user humorously remarking about the potential consequences of creating machines with unprecedented levels of motion. In an interview with IEEE Spectrum, Boston Dynamics’ CEO Robert Palter emphasized the company’s deliberate decision to design the robot to be distinctly non-human-like. This intention is clearly reflected in the video showcasing Atlas’s unconventional yet incredibly agile movements.
For those interested in delving deeper into the capabilities of the new electric Atlas, as well as Boston Dynamics’ other robotic creations like the robot dog Spot, a comprehensive video overview by Stephen Beacham is available for viewing. Through continuous innovation and evolution, Boston Dynamics continues to push the boundaries of robotics, captivating audiences with their cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking advancements.