Boston Dynamics Just Upgraded Atlas and It’s Starting to Feel Human (New Skills)

Boston Dynamics has significantly upgraded its Atlas robot with advanced GR2 grippers, featuring an opposable thumb and tactile sensing, while Figure AI unveiled its Figure 03 humanoid, designed for general-purpose tasks with enhanced AI and safety features.

• Boston Dynamics' Atlas now features GR2 grippers with an opposable thumb and tactile sensing for human-like dexterity.

• Figure AI's Figure 03 humanoid is designed for general-purpose tasks, boasting in-house AI, enhanced safety, and scalability.

• The race for practical humanoid robots is intensifying, moving from lab demos to real-world deployment with ongoing challenges in safety and unpredictable environments.

Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot now boasts highly advanced GR2 grippers, providing human-like dexterity with an opposable thumb and tactile sensing, allowing it to perform complex manipulation tasks with precision. Simultaneously, Figure AI introduced its Figure 03 humanoid, engineered for versatile household and industrial applications, incorporating an in-house AI system, improved safety, and robust manufacturing for scalability. These developments signify a critical tipping point in the race to create practical humanoid robots, pushing the boundaries of automation toward more nuanced human-robot interaction.

Boston Dynamics Atlas Upgrade

• 00:00:30 Boston Dynamics has given its Atlas robot a major upgrade with the new second-generation GR2 gripper, shifting focus from locomotion to sophisticated manipulation capabilities. This gripper features seven degrees of freedom, including an articulated opposable thumb and two actuators per finger, dramatically expanding Atlas's ability to grasp and handle objects. Tactile sensors in the fingertips provide a sense of touch, allowing the robot to apply precise force without crushing or dropping items, while palm-mounted cameras offer visual feedback in tight spaces.

GR2 Gripper Functionality

• 00:01:53 The GR2 gripper's opposable thumb is a crucial advancement, enabling two-finger pinches, three-finger grasps, and better stability for heavier objects, making it far more versatile than its predecessor. This design choice, prioritizing three fingers and a thumb, was deemed the optimal balance for dexterity and practicality, allowing Atlas to grasp a wide range of irregular shapes and tools. Atlas also plans actions strategically, utilizing whichever hand provides a more stable grasp or avoids obstacles, without adopting a fixed dominant hand like humans.

Figure AI's Figure 03 Humanoid

• 00:05:57 Figure AI has introduced its Figure 03 humanoid, designed for general-purpose use in homes, warehouses, and hotels, aiming beyond lab demonstrations towards real deployment. It incorporates their in-house Helix AI system for learning tasks without tele-operation, features a lighter and smaller design with soft, washable external materials for safety, and includes enhanced sensors with a wider field of view and palm cameras. Custom touch sensors in the fingertips detect minute pressure changes, enabling delicate handling of objects.

Challenges and Industry Outlook

• 00:08:47 While impressive, current humanoid robot demos from both Boston Dynamics and Figure AI are often conducted in controlled environments, raising questions about their performance in unpredictable real-world settings with obstacles and messes. The industry faces challenges related to safety, as robots must mitigate risks of accidental damage, and the integration of advanced computing platforms like Nvidia's Jetson Thor chip is crucial for real-time perception and control. The broader implications include potential job displacement versus augmentation as these advanced robots become more capable and cost-effective.