Boston Dynamics makes Atlas robot walk and climb better

It will take some time before a robot is made that is almost indistinguishable from a human. Still, Atlas from Boston Dynamics comes pretty close. At least in terms of movement. The robot could already run and do somersaults, and has only gotten better at it.

In the latest video from the robot builder, BD shows what Atlas is up to. The robot is 1.50 m high, weighs 75 kg, has 28 joints and can lift 11 kg. Most notable, however, is how the robot jumps on platforms from ascending heights. He transfers his weight with his legs and stabilizes his posture with his arms, just like a human being.

Atlas can see depth and uses laser imaging detection and ranging, lidar. This allows the robot to navigate over rough terrain. Like BD’s other robots, Atlas can stabilize itself if it threatens to fall, for example by being pushed.

In addition, the parts of Atlas are made with a 3D printer. In this way, the robot is not too heavy and it is compact, so that it can move more freely and perceive the space around it more quickly. In May, BD showed another video of Atlas jumping over a tree trunk. That was a lot less smooth then than it is now.