Atlas (2013)

Three views of the 2013 Atlas robot show a complex electronics and sensor laden humanoid robot. — One of the most advanced humanoids ever built. Photo: DARPA

Atlas is a hulking humanoid robot that can walk over rough terrain and manipulate objects. It looks like the Terminator, but it was designed as a rescue robot as part of the DARPA Robotics Challenge.

Creators

Boston Dynamics and DARPA

Year

2013

Country

United States 🇺🇸

Categories

Features

Robots falling down. Video: IEEE Spectrum

Did you know?

The lights on Atlas's chest look like a flux capacitor, but they're only for decoration.

A two legged robot named Atlas 2013 with its hands on hips poses in a warehouse. — Born at the labs of Boston Dynamics. Photo: DARPA

Image of a robot sitting in a cart with hands on a steering wheel. — A computer simulation of Atlas driving. Photo: DARPA

History

In 2012, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) selected the robotics firm Boston Dynamics to build the Atlas humanoid as part of the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC). The goal of the DRC was to advance disaster response robotics with the hope that robots, not humans, will one day help mitigate major catastrophes, such as the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. The brainchild of then-DARPA program manager Gill Pratt (now a Toyota executive), the DRC held a preliminary competition in December 2013, and the DRC Finals took place in 2015. While some teams built custom robots to compete, other teams used Atlas as a "standard platform" provided by DARPA. Teams had to program their robots to perform a wide range of tasks, including driving a utility vehicle, using power tools, and even breaking through a wall. While Atlas was able to complete many of the challenges, it also stumbled and fell in spectacular fashion.

Computer image of a black humanoid robot on a hilly green space. — Simulated Atlas goes for a walk. Photo: DARPA

Computer image of a robot attaching a hose to a pipe. — "Where do I attach this?" Photo: DARPA

More Images

Computer image showing face down prone black robot. — "Uh, can anyone give me a hand here?" Image: DARPA

Specs

Overview: Near-human anthropometry. Equipped with hydraulic actuators powered by on-board pump. Body has crash protection coverings.
Status: Inactive
Year: 2013
Website: darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/debut-atlas-robot
Width: 76 cm
Height: 188 cm
Length: 56 cm
Weight: 150 kg
Sensors: Head: sensor package by Carnegie Robotics with LIDAR, stereo cameras, dedicated electronics, and perception algorithms.
Actuators: 28 hydraulic actuators with closed-loop position and force control. Atlas can use two different pairs of hands, one built by iRobot and the other by Sandia National Labs.
Degrees of Freedom (DoF): 28 (Neck: 1 DoF; Arm: 6 DoF x 2; Torso: 3 DoF; Leg: 6 DoF x2)
Materials: Aircraft-grade aluminum and titanium
Compute: On-board real time control computer with 10 Gbps fiber optic Ethernet
Software: C++ and ROS APIs
Power: 480-V three-phase via tether. On-board hydraulic pump and thermal management.
Cost: $2 million