Detail

According to the video description Atlas uses: machine learning to detect changes in the environment and work with these changes. TechCrunch writes that it also has a “special grip policy” that helps it keep a firm grip on objects by constantly assessing the state of what it’s holding.

Taking certain locations to transport the parts, Atlas gets to work deciding independently how to accomplish tasks, without predetermined actions.

In contrast, Tesla’s Optimus robots receive remote assistance from a human, despite their claims of autonomy. The Optimus robots were at a live event where the company introduced its robot taxis, but it was later revealed that neither these taxis nor the robots were autonomous, but controlled by a person.

The video shows Atlas separating engine parts and transporting them to designated locations. It copes well with this task and carries them without much discomfort. After placing one part in the container, the robot repeats this process for the other parts.

Demo of Atlas functionality: video

Everything seems to work thanks to AI that analyzes the surrounding space AND the purpose of certain things the robot has access to. It allows the machine to crouch, turn its head to examine the room, and rotate the robot’s “body” around its axis to determine the correct position. Waist rotation minimizes movement, saving precious seconds in the working process.

Boston Dynamics says Atlas can detect and respond to changes in the environment (such as moving lights) and understanding one’s own failures in actions (e.g. not attaching the cover, tripping, impacting the environment). It also uses “a combination of vision, force and proprioceptive sensors” to do this.

evolution of atlas

The Atlas has undergone many changes since its presentation in 2013, most notably the switch from hydraulic to electric after almost 11 years of testing. The old Atlas and the current Atlas are markedly different from each other.

Like its rivals like Figure, Tesla and Apptronik, the first application of Boston Dynamics’ bipedal robot is working in auto factories. This focus seems logical, considering the firm is now owned by Hyundai, which has decided to strike a deal with Toyota’s research wing.

Today, the automotive industry is far ahead in automation and is looking for new ways to improve, accelerate and optimize its workforce, even if it means replacing humans with robots.