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Boston Dynamics and the Robotics & AI Institute are at the forefront of integrating humanoid robotics with advanced artificial intelligence through their latest collaboration aimed at enhancing capabilities for the Atlas robot. This partnership is focused on developing a shared reinforcement-learning training pipeline to enable Atlas to demonstrate versatile and adaptable mobile manipulation behaviors.
Beginning this month, the two organizations are working in tandem to build new skills for Atlas, a robot that has recently been acknowledged with a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award. An electric version of the robot made its debut in April 2024, showcasing its advanced functionalities.
Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, emphasized the significance of flexible humanoid capabilities in various environments and applications. He believes this cooperation with the RAI Institute unites two leading forces in robotics to enhance essential capabilities, potentially making humanoids like Atlas indispensable tools in everyday life.
Boston Dynamics, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group following its acquisition in 2020, established the AI Institute—now the RAI Institute—with a substantial investment of $400 million in 2022 to further its robotics research.
Aaron Saunders, the CTO of Boston Dynamics, will highlight these developments at the upcoming Robotics Summit & Expo, scheduled for April 30 and May 1, 2025, in Boston.
Goals of the Partnership
This collaboration builds on previous efforts between Boston Dynamics and the RAI Institute, which have collectively worked on initiatives such as the Reinforcement Learning Researcher Kit for the Spot robot. This kit, released last year, focused on refining the robot’s locomotion and enabling record speeds of 11.5 mph (5.2 m/s). The new partnership will build on this foundation with an emphasis on humanoid robotics. The stated objectives include:
Advancing Sim-to-Reality Techniques: One of the formidable challenges in robotics is transferring digital simulation successes to real-world applications. This partnership aims to develop policies that foster various agile behaviors in physical settings, striving for robust and practical locomotion strategies.
Enhancing Whole-Body Locomotion and Manipulation: The team will also work to combine locomotion with the ability to handle objects and interact with environments, such as navigating doors and levers. Improved policies are expected to bolster robustness in these interactions.
Investigating Full-Body Contact Strategies: This aspect of the work will delve into high-performance locomotion involving dynamic movements and the manipulation of heavy objects, necessitating intricate coordination between the robot’s limbs.
Ambitions of the RAI Institute
Marc Raibert, the founder of Boston Dynamics and executive director at the RAI Institute, has highlighted the ambition of the organization to forge technologies that empower future generations of intelligent machines. Collaborating on the Atlas project is seen as a significant step toward advancing reinforcement learning techniques and enhancing the humanoid’s skill set.
The RAI Institute, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is dedicated to addressing critical challenges in AI and robotics. Its research pursuits encompass foundational aspects such as perception and reasoning, aiming to integrate these capabilities with improved physical functionalities.
The institute categorizes its research into four primary domains: cognitive AI, athletic AI, organic hardware design, and the ethical dimensions of robotics. They emphasize a culture that merges university-level research with corporate innovation.
The RAI Institute envisions that its innovations will drive productivity, enhance safety, assist individuals with disabilities, and enrich overall quality of life. The partnership with Boston Dynamics is expected to leverage existing AI research while extending the benefits across various robotic frameworks.
Commercialization Efforts at Boston Dynamics
In contrast to the research-oriented focus of the RAI Institute, Boston Dynamics is progressing towards the commercialization of its robotic platforms. In addition to the Atlas and Spot robots, the company has introduced Stretch, a robot designed specifically for unloading containerized goods.
Boston Dynamics has established a reputation for delivering pioneering technology in robotics, known for achievements in dynamic mobility and manipulation. The latest iteration of Atlas exemplifies the culmination of years of integrated hardware and software design, enhancing its functionality and adaptability.
Since 2020, Spot has been actively deployed in commercial settings for industrial inspections, and its capabilities have progressively evolved. Recently, German retailer Otto Group made use of both Spot and Stretch, marking their first joint deployment in Europe. Furthermore, Boston Dynamics announced a collaboration with the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) for the development of versatile robotic solutions.
The advancements of the electric Atlas are paving the way for its integration into commercial applications, enhancing its movement and dexterity to meet market needs.
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