Electric Atlas: Lighter, More Agile, and Ready to Work
Author: Xinxin Editor: Jingyu
Ten years ago, Boston Dynamics introduced a robot named Atlas, powered by traditional hydraulic technology. Over the course of a decade, Atlas entertained and startled internet users with its dancing and parkour skills, making Boston Dynamics the leading global brand in robotics.
Just a few days ago, Boston Dynamics announced online that Atlas was officially "retiring" and released a video reviewing the "life" of this superstar in the world of robots, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
However, just two days later, Boston Dynamics announced the launch of a new generation Atlas, powered by electricity. Gone are the limitations of the bulky and noisy hydraulic systems, replaced by the flexibility and quietness of electric power.
It must be said that Boston Dynamics has mastered the art of online promotion.
With the robot market being reassessed amidst the AI frenzy, earlier this year, a wave of tech giants poured money into Silicon Valley AI robotics startups. Now, with the arrival of the electric Atlas, what does this mean? Will the electric Atlas take over the iconic status of its predecessor?
01
The New "Electric Atlas"
"Atlas will move in ways that surpass human capabilities," claims Boston Dynamics.
In the center of an empty workshop, the new Atlas lies flat on the ground like a corpse. With the hum of electric motors, five seconds later, Atlas's legs lift up like a marionette, fold backward, touch the ground, and then the entire upper body rises, the hollow head rotating 180 degrees, the torso rotating 180 degrees, advancing toward the camera.
Electric Version of Atlas Gets Moving | Image Source: Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics claims that the new Atlas robot "pushes the limits of whole-body mobility and manipulation," stating that the electric version of Atlas is "stronger, more nimble, and more agile." They say it's "more powerful and has a wider range of motion" compared to their previous generations.
The previous latest generation hydraulic Atlas (HD Atlas) was capable of lifting and manipulating various heavy and irregular objects, and the electric Atlas will explore more movements on this foundation.
According to Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter, they have installed "custom high-power and highly flexible actuators on most joints," which means "a huge range of motion." He adds that "most joints are stronger than those of humans, or even elite athletes."
Explaining further, the new Atlas will be able to perform a series of actions that humans cannot, ultimately aiming to "handle dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks" in the real world.
This flexibility is like a "palette," where engineers can design new movements on Atlas. "We've been playing around with it a lot and decided to share this excitement with the world."
The design inspiration for the new Atlas head comes from Pixar's desk lamp character. Robert Playter mentioned that the robot's head was one of the "very vexing design elements."
Many humanoid robot heads resemble human shapes, often appearing somewhat threatening or dystopian. "We wanted to get away from that," says Playter. "So, we made very deliberate decisions about the shape of the head, with the clear intention of making it not human." The aim was for it to be "friendly and approachable," possibly to avoid the uncanny valley effect.
"Electricity + AI": The New Trend in Robotics
So why did Boston Dynamics switch Atlas entirely to electric power, ending its use of hydraulics? From automotive to aviation, electrification has reached the emerging field of robotics, with all-electric robots appearing to be a significant development direction.
Hydraulic robots have their drawbacks, such as hydraulic fluid leaks. In Boston Dynamics' released clips of Atlas falling mishaps, the robot's feet sometimes appeared to fracture, with hydraulic fluid gushing out and spilling on the floor. Hydraulic systems also incur higher maintenance and upkeep costs, and due to the large size of hydraulic pumps, tanks, and pipelines, hydraulic robots tend to be heavier and bulkier. Additionally, there are issues with noise and response speed.
In contrast, electric power as a driving force eliminates the problem of hydraulic fluid leaks. Electric robots are also quieter, more energy-efficient, and can be developed towards lighter and more compact designs after removing large hydraulic pumps.
Additionally, Boston Dynamics' relationship with the automotive industry might be a factor. In 2021, Hyundai Motor Company announced the completion of its acquisition of Boston Dynamics for $1.1 billion, stating that the collaboration would help "create next-generation automotive manufacturing capabilities."
In recent years, Boston Dynamics found they could manufacture a "lightweight electric actuator" with the same responsiveness and strength as hydraulic systems, or sufficient responsiveness and strength.
They designed a compact actuator for the electric Atlas and "compared the strengths of the new electric Atlas and the hydraulic Atlas, with the result that the electric Atlas is stronger."
However, Boston Dynamics is not the first company to introduce electric robots. Unitree's H1 biped robot also features electric joint motors and is claimed to be the first robot to perform a backflip without using hydraulic systems, although the project is still in its early stages.
Furthermore, AI is also a focus for Boston Dynamics.
"In addition to decades of expertise in simulation and model predictive control, we've equipped our robots with new AI and machine learning tools, such as reinforcement learning and computer vision, to ensure they can operate effectively and adapt to complex real-world situations." The Boston Dynamics team stated that they are ready to push AI into the market immediately, starting with Spot products, and will further advance with the arrival of the electric Atlas.
According to Robert Playter, Atlas "certainly needs to be a general-purpose robot," but there is still much work to be done in terms of generality, so that humanoid robots can pick up any of a thousand different parts and handle them reasonably. "This universality has not yet been proven. We believe it's hopeful, and AI will be one of the tools to help solve this problem."
It is said that electric Atlas will begin field trials with Hyundai Motor next year, with mass production scheduled for a few years later, and engineers also hope that this humanoid robot can replace its own batteries. In a video released by Boston Dynamics in February this year, segments were shown of the hydraulic version of Atlas working with automotive support stands.
The differentiating factor between Atlas and other humanoid robots is its ability to pick up heavy, complex, and large objects. The support stand in the video may weigh around 20 pounds, and Playter claims that Atlas can "pick up a tire" and perform other real-world tasks, asserting that "no other company has seen this yet."
The robotics industry is challenging, with some robotics companies being founded and then going out of business over the past decade since the debut of the hydraulic Atlas, but this hasn't stopped the increasing number of players in the humanoid robot market, including well-known companies like Apptronik, Tesla, 1X, and Figure.
Humanoid robots from companies like Figure and Apptronik are now being tested for BMW and Mercedes-Benz production lines, and Musk has also entered the robotics field, developing Optimus, which has undergone multiple iterations and claims that Optimus will work in Tesla's factories in the future.
Furthermore, in the past year or two, AI has given these humanoid robot companies hope of achieving "generality," making the playing field even more lively, with billions of dollars pouring in.
Earlier this year, 1X Technologies AS, a Norwegian robotics startup supported by OpenAI, raised $100 million to launch its second-generation robot NEO, with the goal of performing daily household chores. OpenAI also partnered with Figure to develop AI models for humanoid robots. "To be honest, they will start catching up with us at the fastest pace possible—that's what we've seen so far. I believe this will ultimately drive the entire industry forward." Robert Playter stated.
03
The Legendary Decade of Atlas
Boston Dynamics, founded in 1992, boasts three gems— the humanoid Atlas, the dog-like Spot, and the brick-carrying Handle.
And now, the electric Atlas, built upon decades of research and development of the old generation hydraulic robots, once secured contracts from the Pentagon, initially funded by the government, then nurtured by Google, passed to SoftBank, and finally ended up with Hyundai Motor.
Over the past decade or so, Boston Dynamics has periodically released new Atlas videos showcasing the humanoid robot running, jumping, backflipping, dancing, parkouring, doing dishes, and moving objects.
"From PETMAN testing protective suits to the recent retirement of the HD Atlas performing parkour, we've spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of humanoid robot technology," Boston Dynamics stated.
In homage to this robot that pushed the limits of humanoid robotics, Boston Dynamics released a compilation video of Atlas, including bloopers of brutal falls.
A Farewell Video for the old Atlas by Boston Dynamics | Video Source: YouTube
Looking back to 2013, Boston Dynamics officially unveiled Atlas, a robot weighing over two hundred pounds, needing a tether for power and computing, with 28 hydraulic joints, born out of a competition held by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the Pentagon.
Dancing Hydraulic Version of Atlas | Boston DynamicsIn 2021, Atlas once again wowed the internet with its gymnastics performance, flipping, jumping, and stabilizing just when it seemed like it was about to fall. While these performances delighted the online audience, they also left some feeling uneasy, as meticulously choreographed parkour routines had previously drawn criticism from scholars in the field of robotics.
By 2023, Atlas began showcasing its movements in real-world work scenarios, tossing boards and tool bags in a scene mimicking a construction site.
"The humanoid robot is highly suitable for applications such as manufacturing, factory work, construction, and more," explained the project lead for Atlas at the time. "The dream of humanoid robots is that they should be able to do everything we can, right?"
*Image source: Boston Dynamics
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