Latest news with #RoboticsandAIInstitute
Fox News
09-04-2025
- Fox News
Humanoid robot breakdances its way into history
Boston Dynamics is at it again, wowing us with some seriously cool robotic moves. Their latest video of Atlas, their bipedal robot, has blown up online with its mind-blowing human-like movements, including breakdancing. These impressive moves are the result of a collaboration between Boston Dynamics and the Robotics and AI Institute. Breakdancing, including the famous "coffee grinder" move, is just one of the many impressive feats Atlas can perform. The robot now demonstrates an impressive range of movements that would make even the most seasoned breakdancers envious, such as crawling on all fours with surprising agility, executing forward rolls and cartwheels and performing handstands. It's clear that Atlas is no longer just a walking, talking machine. It's becoming a breakdancer. The secret behind Atlas' slick moves lies in the combination of reinforcement learning and motion capture technology. Human dancers perform movements while wearing motion capture suits, and this data is fed into Atlas' learning model. Through reinforcement learning, Atlas practices and refines these movements, allowing it to mimic human actions with uncanny accuracy. The result is a robot that can bust a move like a pro. The latest fully electric version of Atlas features impressive specifications. Standing at 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 196 pounds, this agile robot can reach a top speed of 5.6 mph (approximately 8.2 feet per second). Atlas boasts 28 degrees of freedom, allowing for complex movements and maneuvers. It's equipped with advanced lidar and stereo vision sensors for precise environmental awareness. Unlike its hydraulic predecessors, this version is powered by a fully electric system with all-electric actuators. At its core, Atlas runs on a custom control and computing system, enabling its remarkable performance and adaptability. This new generation of Atlas is stronger and more dexterous than its predecessors, with a broader range of motion that sometimes exceeds human capabilities. While Boston Dynamics doesn't publicly disclose the exact cost of Atlas, industry experts estimate that each unit costs between $500,000 to $1 million to produce as of 2025. This high price tag reflects the cutting-edge technology, advanced materials and countless hours of research and development that go into creating such a sophisticated robot. However, as with most technologies, the cost is expected to decrease over time as production scales up and technologies mature. It's worth noting that Atlas is primarily a research platform and is not currently available for commercial purchase. Instead, Boston Dynamics leases these robots to select partners for research and development purposes, with annual leasing costs estimated to be in the six-figure range. While watching a robot breakdance is undeniably cool, the implications of this technology go far beyond entertainment. The agility and adaptability demonstrated by Atlas could have significant real-world applications, such as emergency response and search and rescue operations or assisting in environments designed for humans. In fact, Atlas has been trialed in Hyundai Motor Group's vehicle factory since late 2024, potentially revolutionizing manufacturing processes. As we watch Atlas effortlessly spin and cartwheel, it's hard not to be amazed at how far robotics has come. From clunky, barely mobile machines to smooth operators that can outperform humans in certain tasks, the progress is nothing short of miraculous. While we may not see breakdancing robots on every street corner just yet, Atlas' latest performance gives us a glimpse into a future where the line between human and machine movement becomes increasingly blurred. Impressive or unsettling? How comfortable are you with robots moving this well? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Boston Dynamics' Atlas shows off breakdance skills that would make Olympians sweat
Boston Dynamics has always been at the forefront of robotic innovation, but their latest reveal takes things to a new level. Today (March 19, 2025), the company revealed a stunning new demonstration of its humanoid robot, Atlas. This time, Atlas was not simply picking up boxes from the ground and placing them on the table; it was breakdancing! Powered by cutting-edge reinforcement learning and guided by human motion data from a motion capture suit, Atlas now moves in less robotic and more... human ways. Atlas does not follow commands anymore; it can adapt, learn, and even break, giving a tough competition to a certain Australian Olympics contestant (If you know, you know)Check out this jaw-dropping video below - At the core of this robotic innovation leap is reinforcement learning. Atlas trains through trial and error rather than getting stuck in rigid programming. But the real magic comes from adding a motion capture suit worn by a human operator. This human movement data is fed directly into Atlas' learning model, allowing the robot to mimic, analyze, and refine its movements. In the demonstration, Atlas breaks the shackles of limited movements. It recovers from stumbles, makes sharp pivots, and breaks some moves. The partnership between Boston Dynamics and the Robotics and AI Institute has made this breakthrough possible. Combining top-tier robotics engineering with cutting-edge AI research, Atlas is now equipped to operate in unpredictable environments. In demonstration footage, Atlas can be seen moving confidently, correcting its posture mid-motion, and maintaining balance through quick adjustments. This adaptability opens doors for real-world applications — robots that can assist in search-and-rescue operations, navigate industrial sites, handle logistics in environments too dangerous for humans, or join humans in impromptu dance battles. Unlike traditional robots that depend on rigid programming, Atlas is continuously learning from its environment and improving its responses. This makes it more than a machine that executes tasks; it becomes a responsive system capable of interpreting and reacting to real-world challenges. While motion capture has long been used in the film industry to bring animated characters to life, its role in robotics is now equally transformative. By mapping human movement with extreme accuracy, motion capture data allows robots like Atlas to develop an understanding of natural motion — fluid transitions, subtle weight shifts, and fast corrective actions that are difficult to code manually. In movies, motion capture makes fictional characters believable. Robotics is shaping the future of real-world machine autonomy. With each movement captured, Atlas gains insight into how humans react, adapt, and move instinctively. The result is a robot that doesn't just look advanced but moves and responds with a lifelike precision that pushes the boundaries of what we thought was possible. Boston Dynamics hasn't revealed when Atlas might be ready for real-world deployment, but one thing is certain: the age of responsive, intelligent robotics is here.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Boston Dynamics 的 Atlas 機器人會跳霹靂舞了
在機器人公司中，Boston Dynamics 最特出之處，就是他們會在 YouTube 上炫耀機器人最新的能力，並且多年來為我們帶來了許多令人印象深刻的影片。今天他們又帶來了最新的 Atlas 機器人技術展示，其動作明顯比先前更加流暢，也更像真人。 Atlas 展示了幾種類型的全身運動，從走路開始，進階到跑步、爬行、翻筋斗，甚至還來了一小段霹靂舞。最特別的是，這些動作不單純是靠感應器和計算來進行，而是有用到強化學習（Reinforcement Learning）的機器學習技術來開發，並使用為真人動作的動作捕捉為訓練的原始材料。照這來看，機器人哪天能比人類更聰明還是未知數，但論跳舞大多數人應該已經是贏不了了。 這是 Boston Dynamics 與 Robotics and AI Institute（RAI Institute，機器人與 AI 研究院）合作研究的一部分。此外，Boston Dynamics也與其他單位有所合作，昨天他們也宣佈了與 NVIDIA 的深化在機器方面的合作，並使用 NVIDIA 的 Jetson Thor 運算平台來執行「複雜的多模態 AI 模型」，以操作 Boston Dynamic 的全身動作控制器。 相關新聞： 👉 Boston Dynamics 的 Atlas 機器人示範標準的伏地挺身 👉 Boston Dynamics 火速公布 Atlas 接班「人」，那就是... 純電動的 Atlas 👉 Boston Dynamics 的 Atlas 人形機器人退休了，一起來回顧它的高光時刻 緊貼最新科技資訊、網購優惠，追隨 Yahoo Tech 各大社交平台！ 🎉📱 Tech Facebook： 🎉📱 Tech Instagram： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 社群： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 頻道： 🎉📱 Tech Telegram 頻道：
