Not everybody agrees that replicating the four-limbed, bipedal shape of a human should be replicated in robot form. For one, walking with two feet is inherently less stable than four, nevermind a set of wheels. Replicating the dexterity and fine motor skills of human hands also remains a major challenge.<\/p>\n
In a modified approach, Boston Dynamics has clearly decided to loosen up some of the restrictions of the human form. During an on-stage demonstration at this year\u2019s CES convention<\/a> in Las Vegas, Boston Dynamics showed off the agility of its humanoid Atlas robot \u2014 albeit with an unnerving degree of freedom of movement that dispels the illusion of a human entity.<\/p>\n Key to the demo is that the robot features clever joints that allow for \u201ccontinuous rotation<\/a>.\u201d In effect, its hips, wrists, and neck can swivel a full 360 degrees unimpeded.<\/p>\n After confidently strutting to the front of the stage, Atlas starts twisting its hands like a drill, rotating its head like the girl in \u201cThe Exorcist,\u201d and even turning its entire torso around in a dizzying maneuver \u2014 a clear indication that Boston Dynamics isn\u2019t planning to be boxed in by the limitations of human anatomy.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s more to it than just copying nature,\u201d Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter said during the announcement. \u201cWe can pick the best parts of what nature has to offer and do better in others.\u201d<\/p>\n The demo was part of Boston Dynamics\u2019 announcement of a production-ready version of its Atlas robot. The Hyundai-owned firm also announced a partnership<\/a> with Google\u2019s DeepMind to bring AI smarts to its bots as well.<\/p>\n The firm claimed that it\u2019s already working on a robot that can be deployed in a car factory. The plan is to deploy it at Hyundai\u2019s EV manufacturing facility by 2028.<\/p>\n However, pricing and an availability date for the six-foot-two, 200-pound robot have yet to be revealed.<\/p>\n Beyond spinning its head and hands around freely, Boston Dynamics has shown how Atlas can manipulate car parts<\/a> and even perform slick breakdancing moves<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAtlas is going to revolutionize the way industry works, and it marks the first step toward a long-term goal we have dreamed about since we were children,\u201d Playter boasted on stage.<\/p>\n Yet many questions remain about the tech\u2019s long-term viability. For one, not everybody agrees that they make the most sense when it comes to actually replacing human labor. Experts have also warned that humanoid robots could be the next financial bubble<\/a>.<\/p>\n When or if bipedal robots will be the form factor of choice, particularly when it comes to industrial settings, remains a subject of debate.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the question comes back to what are the use cases and where is the applicability of the technology,\u201d McKinsey partner Alex Panas told NBC News<\/a>. \u201cIn some cases, it may look more humanoid. In some cases, it may not.\u201d<\/p>\n Judging by its latest demo, Boston Dynamics is playing it safe by taking some liberties.<\/p>\n