Atlas Robot from Boston Dynamics Learns Amazing Acrobatic Tricks

The renowned engineering company has released a new video presenting the new capabilities of its Atlas robot. The robot’s movements are striking in their precision and coordination.

Boston Dynamics has released a new video of its Atlas humanoid robot. The device easily does handstands, backflips and rolls. Some of the tricks shown can hardly be copied by a human who is not trained is gymnastics.

Atlas was produced in 2016. Since then, the company has been working hard to improve it by teaching it new movements that can come in handy in the robot’s demanding life. For example, the machine has recently mastered parkour skills learning how to run, jump, overcome obstacles and even turn its body 360 degrees on the fly.

The most interesting thing is how the robot is trained to perform new movements: the machine calculates what movements it needs to make all by itself. All the developers need to do is to make the device “understand” what is required of it. The company has managed to achieve such a high level of mutual understanding with the robot by improving control algorithms.