Boston Dynamics Gives Atlas Some Handy HandsBoston Dynamics Gives Atlas Some Handy Hands

The Atlas robot has become a nifty assistant who can navigate uneven terrain and get out of trouble after a misstep.

Rob Spiegel

January 25, 2023

1 Min Read
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Image courtesy of Boston Dynamics

Let’s give a hand to Atlas, the famous robot from Boston Dynamics that does backflips. The company recently announced major improvements to Atlas. The bipedal robot can now travel uneven terrain, recover from falls, pick up and carry goods, open doors, and climb ladders. Boston Dynamics incorporated enhanced grasping and manipulation capabilities and new control algorithms that help Atlas improvise and adapt to new conditions.

The last time Atlas was seen in a video, the robots lacked grasping abilities. The legs were first prioritized with arm mobility limited to balance. Atlas is now portrayed with crab claw-style hands and wrist movement.

Atlas has 28 hydraulically operated joints that offer a wide range of motion and flexibility. The robot also features a variety of sensors, including LIDAR, stereo cameras, and an IMU, which enable it to comprehend and navigate its surroundings. The new developments aim to take Atlas one step closer to becoming a viable tool for search and rescue, construction, and manufacturing. 

About the Author

Rob Spiegel

Rob Spiegel serves as a senior editor for Design News. He started with Design News in 2002 as a freelancer covering sustainability issues, including the transistion in electronic components to RoHS compliance. Rob was hired by Design News as senior editor in 2011 to cover automation, manufacturing, 3D printing, robotics, AI, and more.

Prior to his work with Design News, Rob worked as a senior editor for Electronic News and Ecommerce Business. He served as contributing editolr to Automation World for eight years, and he has contributed to Supply Chain Management Review, Logistics Management, Ecommerce Times, and many other trade publications. He is the author of six books on small business and internet commerce, inclluding Net Strategy: Charting the Digital Course for Your Company's Growth.

He has been published in magazines that range from Rolling Stone to True Confessions.

Rob has won a number of awards for his technolloghy coverage, including a Maggy Award for a Design News article on the Jeep Cherokee hacking, and a Launch Team award for Ecommerce Business. Rob has also won awards for his leadership postions in the American Marketing Association and SouthWest Writers.

Before covering technology, Rob spent 10 years as publisher and owner of Chile Pepper Magazine, a national consumer food publication. He has published hundreds of poems and scores of short stories in national publications.

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