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 high-difficulty artistic gymnastics moves.
In the video, Atlas strikes a handstand, supporting its body with both arms in place. Maintaining balance on both palms, it then brings its legs forward over its head and soon threads them between its arms to assume an "L-sit" position. This pose is an advanced artistic gymnastics move, in which the body is supported by both hands while the legs are extended forward to make the body into an "L" shape.
The moves Atlas demonstrated are only possible with precise simultaneous control of the upper body and arm joints. The sight of it supporting its full body weight on two hands, whose surface area is small compared with the torso, is assessed as signaling a higher stage of Boston Dynamics' technology. It raises the likelihood that in future manufacturing sites the robot can carry and move heavy objects or work in nonstandard postures.
The moves applied a whole-body control technology based on Reinforcement Learning. It is an approach in which the robot learns movement and balance strategies on its own through repeated simulations and trial and error. Hyundai Motor Group said this control technology has strengths in enabling more flexible motion when performing complex moves in which posture transitions occur continuously.
In particular, the Atlas in this video is not a research model but a development model intended for actual field deployment. This is the first time Boston Dynamics has released operating footage of the development-model Atlas. The Atlas unveiled at CES on Jan. was also a research model. The development model was displayed at the time, but it was not operated.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to deploy the development-model Atlas to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) and conduct verification for each process unit.