Boston Dynamics, the robotics affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, on the 5th (local time) released a video on its YouTube channel showing the humanoid robot Atlas performing advanced artistic gymnastics moves.
In the video, Atlas goes into a handstand, supporting its body with both arms in place. Balancing on both palms, it then brings its legs forward over the head and soon threads them between its arms to assume an "L-sit." This pose is an advanced artistic gymnastics move in which the body is supported by both hands while the legs are extended forward to form the body into an "L."
The moves Atlas demonstrated are possible only with precise, simultaneous control of the upper body and arm joints. Supporting its full body weight on both hands, which have a smaller area than the torso, is seen as signaling a higher technological maturity at Boston Dynamics. It raises the likelihood that, in future manufacturing sites, the robot could carry and move heavy objects or work in nonstandard postures.
The moves use a whole-body control technology based on Reinforcement Learning. It is an approach in which the robot learns motion and balance strategies on its own through repeated simulations and trial and error. Hyundai Motor Group said this control technology has strengths in delivering more flexible motion when performing complex sequences in which posture transitions occur continuously.
Notably, the Atlas in this video is a development model intended for real-world deployment, not a research model. This is the first time Boston Dynamics has released operational footage of the development Atlas. The Atlas unveiled at CES in January was also a research model. Although the development model was displayed at the time, it was not operated.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy the development model of Atlas to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) and conduct verification by process unit.