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Top US-based humanoid robotics firm pivots to China-dominated all-electric tech race

  • Boston Dynamics announces move to quieter, more efficient robotics that are less costly to operate, and less prone to breakdowns
  • Chinese companies are leading industry innovators in all-electric robotics and commercialisation, expert says

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All new Atlas: robotics maker Boston Dynamics has announced a major shift in its development focus, moving away from hydraulics to all-electric driven machines. Photo: Youtube/Boston Dynamics
Zhang Tongin Beijing
One of the world’s top robotics companies has announced it will stop developing hydraulic-powered humanoid robots and instead focus on making electric motor-driven robots – a category that Chinese tech companies are increasingly dominating.

Last Wednesday, US-based firm Boston Dynamics released a video declaring that its hydraulic humanoid robot “Atlas” would be decommissioned. Known for its humanlike agility, and occasionally successful acrobatics, Atlas had captivated audiences worldwide.

The video showcased a montage of Atlas’ manoeuvres, including backflips, obstacle navigation, and dancing alongside robotic dogs. It also showed the robot’s mishaps – including a failed backflip that resulted in damaged knees.

The next day, the company introduced a new all-electric successor to Atlas, emphasising its “real-world applications”.

While hydraulic robots have greater limb strength, their hydraulic systems are complex and slower to respond. Electric motors are lighter, more flexible, faster and cost less.

The next-generation model – also named Atlas – features individual electric motors at each joint, giving it a wider range of motion that allows it to stand up from a prone position – something hydraulic robots and humans cannot do.

02:39

Korean researchers unveil world’s first humanoid robot pilot

Korean researchers unveil world’s first humanoid robot pilot

Boston Dynamics’ pivot away from the original hydraulic-powered robot to the new electric version marks a shift towards strategies Chinese companies have been pursuing for years.

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