It’s
alive!
A
day
after
announcing
it
was
retiring
Atlas,
its
hydraulic
robot,
Boston
Dynamics
has
introduced
a
new,
all-electric
version
of
its
humanoid
machine.
The
next-generation
Atlas
robot
is
designed
to
offer
a
far
greater
range
of
movement
than
its
predecessor.
Boston
Dynamics
wanted
the
new
version
to
show
that
Atlas
can
keep
a
humanoid
form
without
limiting
“how
a
bipedal
robot
can
move.”
The
new
version
has
been
redesigned
with
swiveling
joints
that
the
company
claims
make
it
“uniquely
capable
of
tackling
dull,
dirty,
and
dangerous
tasks.”
“We
designed
the
electric
version
of
Atlas
to
be
stronger,
more
dexterous,
and
more
agile,”
the
company
said
in
its
press
release.
“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.
Atlas
will
move
in
ways
that
exceed
human
capabilities.”
The
teaser
showcasing
the
new
robot’s
capabilities
is
as
unnerving
as
it
is
theatrical. The
video
starts
with
Atlas
lying
in
a
cadaver-like
fashion
on
the
floor
before
it
swiftly
folds
its
legs
backward
over
its
body
and
rises
to
a
standing
position
in
a
manner
befitting
some
kind
of
Cronenberg
body-horror
flick.
Its
curved,
illuminated
head
does
add
some
Pixar
lamp-like
charm,
but
the
way
Atlas
then
spins
at
the
waist
and
marches
toward
the
camera
really
feels
rather
jarring.
The
design
itself
is
also
a
little
more
humanoid.
Similar
to
bipedal
robots
like
Tesla’s
Optimus,
the
new
Atlas
now
has
longer
limbs,
a
straighter
back,
and
a
distinct
“head”
that
can
swivel
around
as
needed.
There
are
no
cables
in
sight,
and
its
“face”
includes
a
built-in
ring
light.
It
is
a
marked
improvement
on
its
predecessor
and
now
features
a
bunch
of
Boston
Dynamics’
new
AI
and
machine
learning
tools.
The
company
also
said
it’s
continuing
to
build
on
capabilities
already
achieved
with
the
last
generation
hydraulic
Atlas
model,
such
as
lifting
and
maneuvering
objects,
alongside
exploring
“several
new
gripper
variations”
to
ready
the
robot
for
a
range
of
different
industry
environments.
Boston
Dynamics
said
the
new
Atlas
will
be
tested
with
a
small
group
of
customers
“over
the
next
few
years,”
starting
with
Hyundai.
Other
humanoid
robots
from
rival
providers
like
Figure
and
Apptronik
are
similarly
being
tested
on
production
lines
for
BMW
and
Mercedes,
respectively.
Original author: Jess Weatherbed
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