Atlas, the humanoid robot that's been a centerpiece of Boston Dynamics' robot lineup for nearly a decade, has been retired. In its place is, well, Atlas - an all-electric version designed for commercial use.issued yesterday with no other explanation - only to share that the venerable, much-evolved bot was going to"kick back and relax" in retirement.
"The goal is to perform useful tasks in the most efficient way possible, rather than being limited by a human range of motion.", or the Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin, which was designed to test new clothing and protective gear for the US military.Atlas, even its late HD model, wasn't meant for real-world applications, however.
"In addition to investing in us, the Hyundai team is building the next generation of automotive manufacturing capabilities, and it will serve as a perfect testing ground for new Atlas applications," Boston Dynamics said."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 all-electric Atlas was designed to be"stronger, more dexterous, and more agile" than its hydraulic predecessors, but it's not immediately clear whether it'll be capable of some of the physical feats that the older model was capable of - such as backflips and parkour - that might be better suited to hydraulics than electric motors. Boston Dynamics told us it'll generally be"stronger and more capable," and that it'll share more about the bot later this year.