The humanoid robot, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, is showcasing its advanced capabilities by lifting and moving medium-weight car parts. In the past, the robot had gained attention for mastering bipedal tricks like walking, running, and jumping. However, picking up objects is still a work in progress. The latest focus is on “kinetically challenging” tasks, which require the robot to calculate and plan its movements in a way that maintains balance and stability, preventing it from falling over.
In a recently released video, Atlas is seen using its new, more delicate, double-jointed fingers to pick up car struts. These fingers enable the robot to employ precise and gentle handling of objects, as opposed to simply using maximum grip strength. The complexity of the car strut presents a challenge, and Atlas is tasked with carefully lifting, carrying, and placing it onto a shelf. Despite using pre-calculated smarts and vision processing, the robot’s ability to navigate the complexities of lifting and moving the object is impressive.
Furthermore, Atlas’ movements around the pallet demonstrate advanced path-planning and dynamic stumbling, which mirrors the movements of a human, drawing admiration for its capabilities. While challenges still exist, the robot’s progress in handling and manipulating objects signifies an important step forward in the field of robotics. Despite its current limitations, the potential of Atlas and similar robots to perform complex tasks with precision and grace is evident.