Boston Dynamics’ new Atlas video shows how the robot could help construction workers

Editor’s take: Watching the evolution of Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robotic will possible elicit one in every of two emotions: marvel at how the machine is changing into extra human-like in its talents that may profit the world, or terror as we view the primary stage of a machine that might, at finest, take jobs and, at worst, enslave us all. Both approach, the corporate’s new video is fairly spectacular.

The newest demo video showcasing Atlas’ skills illustrates how far the robotic has come and the potential for its sensible makes use of. The bipedal machine might barely stroll when it first arrived. By 2017, it was performing parkour and backflips. A 12 months later, Atlas was jogging, leaping over logs, and bounding from one 40cm step to a different, utilizing its legs, arms, and torso to drive its jumps and for balancing. It progressed to full-on gymnastics in 2019.

Like among the firm’s different robots, there have lengthy been questions over Atlas’ sensible functions. These have been answered in Boston Dynamics’ newest Atlas demo video, wherein the brand new hand grippers, first seen in a Tremendous Bowl industrial, permit the robotic to help a (faux) building employee.

Watching Atlas choose up a 2×8 and use it to create a bridge earlier than navigating the scaffolding whereas carrying a pack of instruments is fairly superb. The robotic can also be in a position to throw a bag as much as the employee utilizing a 180-degree leap, ending off its show with a 540-degree, multi-axis flip that challenge engineers have dubbed the “Sick Trick,” which is much more superior than the parkour it beforehand confirmed off.

We most likely should not fear about total building websites full of Atlas robots simply but: it nonetheless makes loads of errors which can be edited out of those movies. Atlas controls lead Ben Stephens said researchers are nonetheless a “good distance off” from creating humanoid robots that may routinely sort out soiled and harmful jobs in the true world.

Boston Dynamics presently solely sells two robotic fashions: Stretch, utilized in warehouses to maneuver packing containers; and Spot, which is utilized for numerous duties, together with surveillance and mapping. With this newest video, Atlas seems to be to be on the sluggish monitor towards discovering its preferrred occupation. Fortunately, Boston Dynamics beforehand requested folks to not use its robots as weapons.