Goodbye, Atlas, the Agile, Spinning Robot Wonder

After nearly a decade of remarkable accomplishments, Boston Dynamics has bid goodbye to Atlas, the world’s most innovative and groundbreaking humanoid robot.

New Atlas has closely tracked Atlas’ advancements over the years. Starting in 2015, when an enhanced, untethered Atlas was the highlight of that year’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Robotics Challenge, to its evolving abilities that transitioned from balancing and walking on rough terrain to executing energetic gymnastic and parkour maneuvers.

Boston Dynamics’ Compilation Video Celebrating Atlas

In honor of the robot that stretched the boundaries of humanoid design, Boston Dynamics has created a compilation video showcasing Atlas’ highlights (and mishaps), along with some behind-the-scenes footage.

For Boston Dynamics, the Atlas project went beyond showcasing flashy performances. For instance, teaching Atlas parkour was an experiment to explore and test how the robot utilized its perception to anticipate and maneuver around objects.

From Humble Beginnings to Robotic Marvel

When you observe today’s meticulously crafted Atlas, standing at 4 ft 9 in/1.5 m and weighing 196 lb/89 kg, you can appreciate the incredible advancements Boston Dynamics has achieved in robotics. It’s even more astonishing when you recall that 40 years ago, the project began with what resembled a bouncing cake tin.

Certainly, Atlas isn’t the sole robot in Boston Dynamics’ lineup; there’s also Spot and Stretch. Considering the company’s relentless pursuit to lead the robotics industry, it’s likely that their retirement announcement for Atlas will soon be succeeded by news of a new humanoid robot boasting even more impressive capabilities.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more: Video: Figure’s Humanoid Robot now Converses with People