In an exciting new collaboration, Boston Dynamics is joining forces with a team led by its founder and former CEO, Marc Raibert, to create an advanced humanoid robot named Atlas. This initiative, in partnership with the Robotics & AI Institute, aims to enhance Atlas’s capabilities through reinforcement learning—a technique in machine learning where machines learn by experimenting and adapting based on outcomes.

The recently launched project will focus on improving Atlas’s skills in various tasks, such as door opening and running. By tapping into the expertise provided by the Robotics & AI Institute, Boston Dynamics hopes to redefine the limits of humanoid robotics and make the process of skill acquisition for Atlas more efficient.

Marc Raibert, a pivotal figure in the realm of robotics, founded Boston Dynamics in 1992 after a long tenure as a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition to their famous robot dog “Spot,” the company offers a range of commercial robotic solutions, including Stretch, designed for handling boxes in warehouses. The company’s initial hydraulic humanoid robot, introduced in 2013, has now been succeeded by an electric version tailored for real-world use.

In a strategic development, Hyundai took a majority stake in Boston Dynamics in 2021, valuing the robotics company at $1.1 billion. Shortly thereafter, the automaker established the Robotics & AI Institute, backed by $400 million in funding, with Raibert at the helm. The institute is dedicated to tackling AI challenges in robotics, focusing on areas like cognitive AI, athletic AI, and the ethical implications surrounding robotics.

The dedicated research team at the Robotics & AI Institute is working diligently to enhance Atlas’s performance by honing in on skills such as object manipulation, full-body coordination, and dynamic running techniques. In collaboration with Toyota’s research division, which partnered with Boston Dynamics last year, the goal is to improve Atlas’s versatility and effectiveness across a range of settings and tasks.

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with the Robotics & AI Institute, highlighting the potential for accelerated development of essential capabilities needed to integrate humanoid robots like Atlas into everyday scenarios. As the project progresses, the research team plans to share updates through regular publications and demonstrations, illustrating Atlas’s journey as it evolves into a versatile tool suited for various applications and environments.