Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot is back; now it can do parkour

Are you ready to take on Boston Dynamics’ Atlas in a Ninja fight competition? In May, we wrote about the newest futuristic robot from BostonDynamics called SpotMini. Back then, the robot was learning how to open doors for his “friends.” SpotMini is back, now it can navigate entire offices by itself. It can even climb stairs.

Now Boston Dynamics introduced it’s Atlas robot to parkour. The new Atlas’s control software uses the whole body including legs, arms, and torso, to marshal the energy and strength for jumping over the log and leaping up the steps without breaking its pace. (Step height 40 cm.)

The latest Atlas robot can do a lot of things, including:

• Backflips
• Open (and hold) doors
• Wash dishes
• Go trail running
• Lift boxes

In the video below, Atlas uses computer vision to locate itself with respect to visible markers on the approach to hit the terrain accurately.

Below is another Video of Atlas from early 2016. It shows the robot picking up and carrying boxes, even while being kicked by a human.