Because the great human/robot war can’t come soon enough for some people, Boston Dynamics has announced the retirement of its previous ATLAS HD humanoid robot and the creation of a new, much more impressive ATLAS. The teaser video features the latest model rising from lying on the floor like the possessed little girl in The Exorcist. I’d argue it’s even scarier than the movie, though, because this is REAL.
The new ATLAS has a much sleeker form factor than the previous iteration. It appears almost all its joints have 360 degrees of motion, allowing it to perform terrifying feats of agility. It also has a light ring for a face, possibly to charm humans with its similarity to the Pixar lamp or to blind enemies before attacking.
“We designed the electric version of Atlas to be stronger, more dexterous, and more agile. Atlas may resemble a human form factor, but we are equipping the robot to move in the most efficient way possible to complete a task, rather than being constrained by a human range of motion. Atlas will move in ways that exceed human capabilities.”
I can’t even imagine what the next generation of ATLAS will look like, but I suspect an exact human replica. Soon, we won’t even be able to tell the difference between humans and humanoids. Except with a magnet.
With over 17 years of writing experience, Jonathan has had a passion for all things tech-related, ever since watching Inspector Gadget as a child. He's disassembled countless appliances and managed to put a few back together, and one still works. When not writing, he can often be found playing video games or accidentally hurting himself in the garage.