Boston Dynamics releases new video of all-electric Atlas humanoid robot

Robotics company Boston Dynamics has released a new video of its humanoid robot Atlas – now performing tasks with zero human intervention.

In the video released by the futuristic lab – the robot can be seen performing rote physical tasks with ease and without any help from people guiding it.

The bag of bolts moves engine covers in between supplier containers and while navigating a mobile sequencing dolly – simulating what it would be like to work in a factory, according to the video’s caption.

The company emphasized that the humanoid is “Fully Autonomous” – using machine learning vision model to adapt to changing conditions.

The video includes shots of what Atlas sees while performing its tasks – revealing a somewhat fisheye field of vision that includes highlighted recognition of the objects that it is handling.

“There are no prescribed or teleoperated movements; all motions are generated autonomously online. The robot is able to detect and react to changes in the environment like,” engineers from Boston Dynamics explained.

Earlier this month, Boston Dynamics introduced the world to Atlas – whose head is vaguely reminiscent of the Pixar lamp.

Atlas is meant for commercial use and is designed to tackle “real-world applications”, according to Boston Dynamics. In the video the wired worker demonstrates that he can function entirely when left to its own devices after being presented merely  a “list of bin locations.”

This new version of the Atlas is now also fully electric, allowing for a broader range of motion than previous generations of the humanoids, the company said on their site.

This all electric model is a departure from previous versions that operated using hydraulics. 

Social media called out Atlas for being creepy – notably, in a video released onto X, the robot stands up by planting its feet behind its head and stands up and inverts its body while reorienting its spinal column.

This new revelation of progress comes after Elon Musk’s Tesla unveiled the new Optimus humanoid robot.

At the unveiling ceremony earlier this month, Optimus models were pulling pints and mingling with guests in shockingly conversational tones – due in part because the ‘bots were being controlled remotely by humans.

The Post reported that experts say it will take a decade before the robots will be released and functioning in society.