khoji parkRobots · Waltham, Massachusetts · 2024
The Backflipping Hydraulic Robot Took Its Final Bow
The hydraulic bipedal robot transitioned into retirement following a decade of acrobatic showcases.
Read in slides1. Origins of the Hydraulic Atlas
Boston Dynamics developed the original Atlas humanoid robot with funding and oversight from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Unveiled to the public on 11 July 2013, the bipedal machine was initially designed to assist emergency services with search and rescue tasks. Early prototype versions were tethered to external power supplies and featured hydraulic actuation across multiple limbs. Program managers compared the early balancing stability of the bipedal platform to that of a young toddler.
Engineers focused on improving dynamic mobility and balance control.
2. DARPA Robotics Challenge
In 2014 and 2015, teams utilizing modified Atlas hardware participated in the DARPA Robotics Challenge inspired by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Robots were programmed to drive utility vehicles, clear rubble, open doors, climb industrial ladders, and operate power tools. During the 2015 finals, the Atlas entry fielded by IHMC Robotics completed all eight tasks to secure second place. These trials tested the physical adaptability of humanoid platforms in disaster scenarios.
The competition demonstrated practical manipulation capabilities in unstructured environments.
3. Transition to Electric-Hydraulic Actuation
Boston Dynamics released a redesigned version of Atlas on 23 February 2016 powered by onboard batteries and hydraulic actuators. This model operated untethered and utilized LIDAR and stereo sensors housed in its head to navigate rough terrain. The updated mechanical design enabled the bipedal robot to walk across snow, recover from slips, and lift heavy objects. Laboratory tests demonstrated advanced balancing capabilities using internal inertial measurement units.
The platform became a primary testbed for dynamic locomotion research.
4. Acrobatic Demonstrations
Over subsequent years, software updates allowed the hydraulic robot to perform complex gymnastic maneuvers and parkour routines. Videos released by the engineering team showed Atlas jumping onto boxes, executing 180-degree turns, and performing full backflips. Later demonstrations featured fluid running strides across uneven grass and multi-step parkour courses with balance beams. Boston Dynamics released those recordings as demonstrations of the hydraulic robot’s movements.
Engineers refined motion-planning algorithms for high-speed dynamic tasks.
5. Commercial Pivot and Industrial Focus
Although initially created for government-funded research, Boston Dynamics shifted its commercial strategy toward industrial automation and manufacturing applications. The company focused on leasing legged and wheeled robots to logistics and construction sectors. Despite its impressive agility, the hydraulic Atlas system experienced occasional operational errors during complex manipulation tasks. Maintenance requirements for high-pressure hydraulic fluid systems prompted engineers to explore alternative designs.
Corporate priorities shifted toward scalable commercial deployment solutions.
6. Retirement Announcement
On 16 April 2024, Boston Dynamics officially announced the retirement of the hydraulic Atlas robot through a video highlighting its operational highlights and bloopers. Robotics experts noted that the platform had successfully pushed the boundaries of what bipedal machines could accomplish over eleven years of development. The farewell video demonstrated both successful parkour flips and occasional stumbles into doors or stairs. The retirement concluded the operational life of the hydraulic bipedal design.
Makers prepared to introduce a successor robotic platform.
7. Unveiling the Electric Successor
Boston Dynamics revealed a fully electric version of Atlas on 17 April 2024, one day after announcing the hydraulic model's retirement. The new design utilized custom high-power actuators and planetary roller screws to match previous force densities without fluid maintenance. Promotional footage showed the electric model standing up from a prone position in an unconventional manner. The updated architecture aimed to provide a commercially viable solution for automotive manufacturing environments.
Commercial integration plans targeted industrial assembly line tasks.
8. Legacy of the Hydraulic Platform
Boston Dynamics announced the hydraulic Atlas’s retirement in April 2024 and released a farewell video of its demonstrations and tests. The company then introduced an electric Atlas design. The new machine was a successor platform, rather than the same hydraulic robot receiving a software update. The retirement ended work with that particular generation while development continued on a different mechanical design.
The hydraulic Atlas was retired and an electric successor introduced.