Robotics specialist Boston Dynamics has posted a vacation message wishing everybody a “season full of sunshine and laughter as we flip over into the brand new yr!”
The flip reference turns into obvious once you watch the accompanying video that includes its Atlas robotic performing a flawless again somersault — wearing a Santa go well with.
You possibly can watch it under:
Now, assuming that it’s not a human dressed as Santa, then you definitely’ll absolutely agree that it’s a reasonably superb transfer for a robotic. However reality be advised, Atlas — or a a lot earlier model of it — has been performing backflips since at least 2017.
Boston Dynamics unveiled its bipedal Atlas robotic in 2013 and through the years its engineers have introduced a slew of exceptional enhancements to its stability and vary of actions.
A significant replace to the robotic got here final spring when Boston Dynamics introduced it was retiring the hydraulic-powered model of Atlas and replacing it with a fully electric version. The Massachussetts-based robotics firm proudly described it as “some of the superior humanoid robots ever constructed,” including that it was now stronger, extra dexterous, and extra agile, and “in a position to transfer in ways in which exceed human capabilities.”
It’s additionally added new AI and machine studying instruments, corresponding to reinforcement studying and pc imaginative and prescient, “to make sure they’ll function and adapt effectively to advanced real-world conditions.”
Simply a few months in the past, Boston Dynamics posted a video exhibiting Atlas in a workplace environment, performing duties that utilized its new, extra superior capabilities. The Hyundai-owned firm additionally revealed that it desires to commercialize Atlas in the same solution to Spot, its spectacular dog-like robotic that’s lengthy been examined in a range of industrial settings.
It’s actually an interesting time for everybody who’s engaged on Atlas — in addition to these of us following its progress — and we’re already trying ahead to seeing how the robotic advances in 2025.
