Boston Dynamics Atlas robot development

Boston Dynamics is advancing its humanoid robot, Atlas, which is designed to operate in human environments. The 1.9 metre tall robot features 56 degrees of freedom and the ability to navigate autonomously. In September 2026, a training centre opened at a Hyundai Motor Group facility in Georgia, United States, to prepare Atlas for automotive assembly tasks. Hyundai intends to eventually deploy 25,000 robots across its global network, while Boston Dynamics collaborates with Google DeepMind to improve the robot’s artificial intelligence.

Research has expanded to include testing the performance limits of Atlas’s actuators and AI-driven control systems through a project titled “Atlas on a Roll.” In November 2026, Boston Dynamics released footage of the robot performing advanced maneuvers using an experimental wheeled configuration. Instead of traditional feet, the robot utilized standard electric scooter wheels attached via custom adapters to its ankle actuators.

This project serves as a research testbed to push motors to their physical limits, requiring high torque and sustained rotational speeds during rapid acceleration, turns, and stops. The experiment utilized reinforcement learning and “Sim-to-Real” technology, allowing the robot to successfully execute complex movements learned in virtual environments, such as 360-degree jumps and lateral sliding. The data and control improvements gained from this wheeled experiment are intended to be integrated into the standard bipedal Atlas model to increase stability and reliability.