For several years now, Boston Dynamics has established itself as the absolute reference in the field of androids, these human-shaped robots that are very fashionable at the moment. Atlas, in particular, has been the star of numerous demonstrations, each more impressive than the last, performing acrobatics with an agility that is unparalleled in the industry.
And the least we can say is that this dynamic seems set to last. Yesterday, the company published a new video to showcase the prowess of the new 100% electric model that replaced the old version last year — and as usual, the result is stunning.
The images speak for themselves. In this one-minute clip, we see Atlas walking, running, crawling, getting up, rolling, breakdancing, and even performing a near-perfect cartwheel — a trivial exercise for seasoned gymnasts, but not necessarily obvious to ordinary mortals!
From a purely "athletic" point of view, these movements are not necessarily more difficult to perform than the somersaults already accomplished by this bipedal robot a few years ago. What makes this demonstration particularly impressive is rather the exceptional fluidity with which it manages to execute them.
Reinforcement learning and motion capture
Since the physical structure of the robot is already Although the company is relatively mature, the engineers' priority is now to advance the way it uses its artificial limbs. To achieve this, Boston Dynamics has focused largely on the software side. The firm has integrated a new machine learning model based on reinforcement learning, designed to be fed directly by humans through a motion capture system.
The process begins with an operator wearing a suit full of sensors, comparable to those regularly used in cinema or video games. The data collected in this way, which represents the movements of each limb in a three-dimensional space, is then transmitted to the AI model.
This allows the robot to “understand” the dynamics of these movements instead of simply executing a series of pre-programmed actions. This is a more than substantial difference compared to older versions — and it's not just because the result is visually impressive. The key point is that this approach allows Atlas adapts its movements in real time, much like a human would naturally do without even thinking about it.
When you get up from your chair or walk, for example, you don't always use your muscles in exactly the same way. Without you being aware of it, your brain adjusts your movements on the fly based on a multitude of factors, such as the friction of the ground, the shape of your shoes, potential obstacles that might arise along the way... That's exactly what Atlas is doing in this video. And this change in methodology could quickly lead to a new series of even more impressive innovations.
It will therefore be important to closely monitor Boston Dynamics' progress. Its machines now display a stunning level of technical maturity, well beyond what strictly utilitarian androids like Tesla's Optimus are capable of, and we can't wait to see how the company will exploit these capabilities in the future.
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