Boston Dynamics Partners with Its Former CEO to Build a Humanoid Robot

In a groundbreaking partnership, Boston Dynamics is teaming up with an organization led by its founder and former CEO to develop a cutting-edge humanoid robot named Atlas. This collaboration with the Robotics & AI Institute, overseen by Boston Dynamics’ visionary Marc Raibert, aims to enhance Atlas through reinforcement learning, a form of machine learning that teaches machines through trial and error.

The project, which kicked off recently, will focus on refining Atlas’s abilities in tasks such as opening doors and running. By leveraging the expertise of the Robotics & AI Institute, Boston Dynamics seeks to push the boundaries of humanoid robotics and streamline the process of acquiring new skills for Atlas.

Raibert, the mastermind behind Boston Dynamics, established the company in 1992 after departing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he served as a professor for nearly a decade. Apart from their renowned robot dog “Spot,” Boston Dynamics boasts a diverse commercial robot lineup that includes Stretch, a warehouse box-moving robot. The company’s original hydraulic humanoid robot, introduced in 2013, was recently replaced by an electric version designed for real-world applications.

In a strategic move, Hyundai acquired a majority stake in Boston Dynamics in 2021, valuing the robotics firm at $1.1 billion. Subsequently, the automaker launched the Robotics & AI Institute with $400 million in funding, spearheaded by Raibert. Focused on addressing AI challenges in robotics, the institute’s key areas of interest encompass cognitive AI, athletic AI, and robotics ethics.

The research team at the Robotics & AI Institute is dedicated to enhancing Atlas’s functionality by concentrating on object manipulation, full-body coordination, and dynamic running strategies. Collaborating with Toyota’s research unit, which joined forces with Boston Dynamics last year, the project aims to elevate Atlas’s capabilities and versatility across various environments and applications.

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter expressed optimism about the partnership with the Robotics & AI Institute, emphasizing the accelerated development of core capabilities crucial for integrating humanoid robots like Atlas into everyday life. As progress unfolds, the research team will provide updates through periodic publications and demonstrations, showcasing Atlas’s evolution as a valuable tool for diverse tasks and environments.