Boston Dynamics, long recognized as a forerunner in robotics, recently unveiled its new version of Atlas, a humanoid robot poised to make waves in various industries, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This event was studded with a live demonstration of the prototype Atlas as well as a dance number by Spot robots, another of Boston Dynamics' creations. As per Boston Dynamics, the beginning of the Atlas' production will take place at their headquarters in Boston with the year's full batch already spoken for, shipping to entities like Hyundai’s Robotics Metaplant Application Center and Google DeepMind.
Atlas is designed for industrial use, able to quickly learn new tasks and operate with minimal human supervision. According to Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, "This is the best robot we have ever built. Atlas is going to revolutionize the way industry works," as reported on the Boston Dynamics website. Not only does Atlas feature a high degree of autonomy, but it can also swap out its own batteries when power runs low, ensuring little downtime. The robot is also touted for its compatibility with various industrial systems through the company's Orbit software.
Boasting 56 degrees of freedom and the strength to lift up to 50 kg, Atlas can be controlled autonomously, by teleoperation, or a tablet steering interface. The design focuses on production friendliness, with GM of Atlas at Boston Dynamics, Zack Jackowski, stating, "This generation of Atlas significantly reduces the amount of unique parts in the robot, and every component has been designed for compatibility with automotive supply chains," as noted in the same report. Hyundai Motor Group, the major stakeholder in Boston Dynamics, plans on integrating these robots into their own factories as part of a hefty $26 billion investment in US operations, including a new robotics factory.
Boston Dynamics has also entered a partnership with Google DeepMind, intended to enhance Atlas with more advanced cognitive capabilities. Meanwhile, Hyundai Mobis has been tapped for the supply of actuators, a move that suggests an intention to forge a robust component supply chain and push forward actuator development. As the industry eyes these developments, Boston Dynamics continues to underscore its role in propelling automation, with a well-rounded repertoire that includes Atlas, Spot, and Stretch robots – each designed to navigate and automate in challenging industrial spaces.
