After class of breaking boundaries , Boston Dynamics is retire its hydraulic robot Atlas . To say farewell , the pioneering company has put together a video montage of the mechanoid marvel ’s best moments , include cheesy saltation moves , acrobatic flips , and a few fails .
“ For almost a decennary , Atlas has sparked our imagination , inspired the next generations of roboticists , and leapt over technical barrier in the field . Now it ’s time for our hydraulic Atlas golem to kick back and relax , ” Boston Dynamics say in a telecasting send on April 16 .
“ Take a look back at everything we ’ve attain with the Atlas program to particular date , ” they added .
Atlaswas created for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) – the high-pitched - impingement , advance - technology branch of the Pentagon – by Massachusetts - based robotics company Boston Dynamics . It started as part of a pillage competition that hop to super - institutionalise the development of a humanoid robot that could assist insearch and rescue operations .
When Atlas made its public debut in 2013 , it had to be tethered to help its stability and was only up to of walking in a uncoiled communication channel . Well , just about .
“ A 1 - year - old nipper can barely walk , a 1 - yr - old child falls down a lot . As you see these machines and you compare them to science fiction , just keep in brain that this is where we are right now , ” Gill Pratt , a programme manager at DARPA involved in Atlas ’s intent and funding , recount theNew York Timesin 2013 .
Much has changed since then . Over the years , the robot ’s hardware and software have been exquisitely tune up by the brains at Boston Dynamics , admit it toperform physical featsthat most humankind would struggle with .
The latest personification of Atlas stands at 150 centimeters ( just under 5 foot ) magniloquent and weighs 89 kilograms ( 196 Irish punt ) . Using its 28 hydraulic joints , it ’s subject of running at speeds of up to 2.5 meters ( over 8 feet ) per second , along with perform somersaults , athletic jump , and 360 ° spins .
It ’s also fortify with a bunch of sensing element that are used to comprehend the surrounding environment in real - time and react consequently . For representative , if you place a hurdle in front of the golem ’s course , it will recognise the trouble and pass over it . Shove it with a pole and it will gracefully line up its body to stay stand .
Boston Dynamicsdidn’t explain why they ’re remit their fabled golem . Some commentators have suggested the companionship is gain way for another Modern product , while others have wonder whether Atlas has become an economic incumbrance . Although the party ’s other products , such as itsdog - like robot Spot , have been sold to various companies fornumerous applications , Atlas was never put on the grocery store .
As highlighted byIEEE Spectrum , the statement from Boston Dynamics states that “ thehydraulicAtlas robot ” is being put into retirement . Does this mean a non - hydraulic Atlas robot is next on the order of business ? At the moment , it ’s anyone ’s hypothesis .
Who knows what ’s next for the bot of Boston Dynamics – let ’s just trust it ’s not a robot uprising .
