HardwareBoston Dynamics' Atlas bot is dead and its replacement is horrifying yet fascinating in equal measureWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareBoston Dynamics' Atlas bot is dead and its replacement is horrifying yet fascinating in equal measureWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Boston Dynamics)
We mere humans are destined, one day, to be no more. For our robot friends however, death comes in the form of retirement, and Boston Dynamics has announced that itsoriginal Atlas robothas finally been put out to greener pastures, or in this case, probably boxed up in a crate at the back of the lab.
The good news is, there’s a replacement. And the bad news is, it’s the sort of thing that haunts my post-apocalyptic dreams at night.
Boston Dynamics first revealed its Atlas humanoid robot back in 2013, created as a contest entry for the US Department of Defence (viaThe Verge). Standing at 6 feet two inches tall and weighing in at 330 pounds, this hydraulically powered machine kept us entertained over the years with its various improvements and iterations, eventually ending up as not only animpressive parkour enthusiast, but as a robot depicted as a friendly, if perhaps slightly show-offhuman helping hand.
This is undoubtedly very impressive, and Boston Dynamics says that this sort of flexibility allows Atlas to move in “ways that exceed human capabilities”. Not only that, butAtlas now has “Athletic Intelligence"that allows it to adapt to new environments on the fly, the ability to dynamically manipulate objects using both its “hands”, and real-time perception features to see its surroundings.
Hyundai willbegin testing the roboton its automotive production lines in the next few years, and I can well believe that all these new capabilities will enable it to perform all sorts of robot-assisted production techniques that a regular human would be unsuited to.
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My question is though: Did you really have to release a video that makes it look quite so horrifying in action? Showing off flexibility is one thing, but watching Atlas 2: The Revenge unfurl itself from the floor in ways only a horror movie creation would move, orient its head and torso towards you, stomp towards the camera like you’ve just spilt its pint, then stride off out of frame is a hair-raising experience.
I’m certain that, as Atlas leaves the scene, it’s setting off to do a multitude of useful tasks. However,years of conditioninghave left me with the distinct impression that I should be watching my back, lest the new Atlas suddenly drop from some scenery and twist my head in ways it may well be capable of, yet my fragile spine is not.
Your next upgrade(Image credit: Future)Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.
Your next upgrade
(Image credit: Future)Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.
(Image credit: Future)
Best CPU for gaming: The top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game ahead of the rest.
Still, it’s a massively impressive display of the new robot’s capabilities, although whether it’s as adept at gymnastics as its predecessor remains to be seen. I can’t help but feel that Boston Dynamics knows what it’s doing with this latest display, as leaning in on the slightly horrifying aspects of its new creation is certain to create a buzz.
For what it’s worth, Atlas, should you ever be imbued with an AI-intelligence that allows you to read this piece, know that I for one am a fan, and think you are a magnificent piece of engineering. I wish you well for the future, and also never to figure out where I live.
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