Boston Dynamics introduces next generation Atlas humanoid robot

Originally introduced in 2013, the Atlas humanoid robot from Google-owned Boston Dynamics has been given an upgrade, which can be seen in a new video released on February 23.

The original version of the vision-guided Atlas robot stands approximately 6 feet tall and weighs 330 lbs. It has four hydraulically-actuated limbs, blue LED illumination, and is made of aircraft-grade aluminum and titanium. This system had a head-mounted MultiSense-SL 3D data sensor package, which is comprised of a Hokuyo UTM-30LX-EW laser and a Carnegie Robotics MultiSense S7 stereo camera. The camera is fitted with either a 2 MPixel CMV2000 or 4 MPixel CMV4000 CMOS image sensor from CMOSIS. These sensors feature a Bayer color filter array and achieve a maximum frame rate of 30 fps.

While little information on the new version of Atlas has been disseminated, Boston Dynamics does note that the next generation Atlas also features sensors to balance its body and legs, as well as LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to "avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with navigation and manipulate objects,"so the vision system here is at least similar. Additionally, this version of Atlas—which is also electrically powered and hydraulically actuated—is about 5'9" tall and weighs 180 lbs.

In the video, in which Boston Dynamics notes that the robot is designed to operate outdoors and inside buildings, Atlas can be seen walking outdoors in the snow, picking up 10 lb. boxes in a warehouse, adjusting itself after slipping or being pushed, and even picking itself backup after an employee (who has apparently never saw Terminator 2), knocked it down to the ground.

ATLAS was initially developed in coordination with DARPA, and was part of DARPA’s Robotics Challenge, in which teams compete to develop and program robots to be used in disaster response scenarios. Teams that enter the Trial Track B/C receive a "shell" ATLAS robot that they then program in order to compete in the challenges.

View more information on Boston Dynamics.

View a Yahoo article on the new Atlas robot.

Share your vision-related news by contacting James Carroll, Senior Web Editor, Vision Systems Design

To receive news like this in your inbox, click here.

Join our LinkedIn group | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter