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Boston Dynamics has once again captured the spotlight by showcasing its humanoid robot, Atlas, demonstrating new breakdancing skills that could rival those of Australian breakdancer B-Girl Raygun. In a video released on Wednesday, Atlas displays a range of legwork combos and even executes a cartwheel, all powered by advanced reinforcement learning techniques and human motion capture.
The Massachusetts-based robotics company, known for viral videos of robots dancing, pulling Santa’s sleigh, and performing parkour, shared the video on YouTube. The footage shows Atlas executing a roundoff from a handstand and performing a ground crawl, although there is room for improvement in the crawling action.
Atlas, described as being “designed for real-world applications,” marks a new chapter in Boston Dynamics’ line of humanoid robots as the first fully electric model—a significant upgrade from the previous hydraulic-powered versions.
“Robots are the bridge between simulation and the real world,” said Aaron Saunders, chief technology officer of Boston Dynamics. “With the current generation of our electric Atlas, we are building the world’s most capable humanoid.”
Atlas utilizes machine learning tools such as reinforcement learning and computer vision, which allow the robot to learn from its actions and rewards. Beyond Atlas, Boston Dynamics is set to introduce new AI capabilities for Spot, its dog-like robot, as well as Orbit, software for robot fleet management and data analysis.
Last April, Boston Dynamics released a video unveiling the new fully electric Atlas. The video featured the robot flipping its legs over its metallic body to stand at full height, illustrating its dynamic range of motion.
“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,” Boston Dynamics wrote in a blog post at the time. “The electric version of Atlas will be stronger, with a broader range of motion than any of our previous generations.”
In December 2020, Boston Dynamics topped YouTube charts with a music video featuring its highly mobile robots dancing to “Do You Love Me” by The Contours. The video highlighted the company’s advancements in artificial intelligence, as robots performed dance moves that could outdo “a drunk human at a wedding.”
The nearly three-minute video begins with Atlas jumping, shuffling, and hopping to the music, soon joined by another Atlas robot, as well as Spot and a wheeled robot named Handle. Another memorable feat was Atlas’ parkour skills, showcased in October 2018 when it leaped over a log and hopped onto a series of platforms.
“The control software uses the whole body including legs, arms, and torso to marshal the energy and strength for jumping over the log and leaping up the steps without breaking its pace,” the company explained. “Atlas uses computer vision to locate itself with respect to visible markers on the approach to hit the terrain accurately.”
Another Boston Dynamics highlight was the 2015 holiday video where three BigDog robots pulled Santa’s sleigh. BigDog, designed for military use, can carry up to 340 pounds and is capable of “playing fetch” with concrete blocks.
Boston Dynamics remains a leader in the robotics industry with several models including Spot finding real-world applications such as hazardous inspections, construction site monitoring, and aiding police forces.
As Boston Dynamics continues to innovate, the company is committed to pushing the boundaries of what humanoid robots like Atlas can achieve, opening up new possibilities for their application in various industries and everyday life settings.
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