Boston Dynamics launched a brand new video of the electrical Atlas humanoid. The video reveals behind-the-scenes snippets of the Atlas engineering staff and the robotic in varied states of meeting and restore. It’s a refreshing have a look at the complicated techniques that make up a humanoid robotic, and it’s additionally an sincere look below the hood at a time when many corporations are guarded concerning the IP inside their robots.
Aaron Saunders, chief know-how officer at Boston Dynamics, will ship the opening keynote at Robotics Summit & Expo 2025, the place he’ll unpack the brand new, electrical Atlas humanoid and share insights from being on the forefront of humanoid growth for years. This keynote will discover the challenges and alternatives of constructing humanoids for real-world purposes, providing a behind-the-scenes have a look at how Boston Dynamics continues to innovate and push the restrict of robotics.
The brand new video previews a number of the matters Saunders is more likely to cowl throughout his keynote. Right here’s what I discovered fascinating in it.
As a controls engineer, the very first thing that I all the time pay shut consideration to is the movement of particular person axes. Within the video, you’ll discover Atlas isn’t all the time tremendous steady when lifting, and manipulating heavy objects into and out of the position areas. Watch the video at 3:06, and also you’ll see that the movement management within the backbone has to dynamically react to disturbances from the forces by the arms and shoulders throughout half placement.
Not like the hydraulic model of Atlas, which was capable of present joint stiffness by hydraulic stress, the electrical motors of the brand new Atlas all should servo dynamically to retain inflexible physique management. I discover it fascinating to observe the whole system operate to attain a particular objective.
Within the video, Scott Kuindersma, senior director of robotics analysis at Boston Dynamics, describes the challenges Boston Dynamics had with the hydraulic Atlas, and the way the brand new, electrical platform improves on these points. “Our previous lab used to have a skinny coat of oil on it always,” Kuindersma stated in reference to the hydraulic model of Atlas.
Boston Dynamics is now constructing its personal actuators, a typical technique for contemporary humanoid producers that’s additionally shared by rivals Apptronik and Determine.
Atlas leveraging coaching knowledge
Boston Dynamics brings an enormous wealth of expertise in object manipulation. The corporate had an earlier begin within the coaching of AI fashions by way of simulation. The analogy right here is within the lifetime of studying that people have in controlling their our bodies, humanoids have the same hurdle to attain a stage of practical management in finishing even the best of duties.
Boston Dynamics is coaching new AI fashions that can present the intelligence to Atlas humanoid, enabling it to autonomously sequence elements for auto meeting crops. | Credit score: Boston Dynamics
The second half of the video seems on the complexity of sequencing duties for the robotic. For humanoids to be helpful at work, they want an understanding of the world round them, and learn how to break down job requests into manageable subtasks. Boston Dynamics is sequencing ideas, and analyzing the 1000’s and 1000’s of elements that go right into a automobile, for instance, and learn how to order these elements for meeting.
Within the video, Atlas demonstrates its means to sequence a elements cart given an outline of the top state, together with an outline of the place to search out the elements.
There may be nonetheless a whole lot of work to be carried out, however it’s wonderful to see the cutting-edge at present and the way rapidly the capabilities and performance of humanoids are evolving.
Humanoids at Robotics Summit & Expo
Humanoids can be distinguished on the Robotics Summit & Expo, which runs from April 30 to Could 1 in Boston and is produced by The Robotic Report.
Along with Saunders’ opening keynote, the primary day of the occasion will characteristic a panel on the state of humanoids with Pras Velagapudi, chief know-how officer at Agility Robotics; Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous techniques at ASTM Worldwide; and Al Makke, director of engineering at Schaeffler. They may discover the technical and enterprise challenges shaping the event of humanoids. The panel may also share insights from early deployments, the continued efforts to ascertain security requirements, and what’s on the horizon.
Unitree can be discussing the event of its humanoids on Day 2 of the occasion and can be demoing the G1 humanoid in sales space 652. Westwood Robotics, which spun out of UCLA, may have the newest model of its THEMIS humanoid in sales space 650. Each humanoids can be interacting with attendees in varied networking actions, too.
PSYONIC may also be discussing and demoing (sales space 750) its superior bionic fingers that it’s creating partly for humanoids. Founder Aadeel Akhtar is giving the closing keynote of the occasion. These are just some of the methods attendees will find out about humanoids on the occasion.
The Robotics Summit & Expo will convey collectively greater than 5,000 builders centered on constructing robots for a wide range of industrial industries. Attendees can achieve insights into the newest enabling applied sciences, engineering greatest practices, and rising traits.
The present will characteristic over 200 exhibitors, 70-plus audio system on stage, and greater than 10 hours of devoted networking time. It would additionally embrace a Ladies in Robotics Breakfast, a profession honest, startup showcase, and extra. Returning to the present are the RBR50 Pavilion and RBR50 Awards Dinner, which is able to honor the winners of the annual RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards.
