Nimble Atlas robot ups its game again to conquer tricky terrain
We take many of the things we do as humans for granted, such as balancing, but our bodies make thousands of adjustments every second just standing still and getting a robot to mimic what comes naturally to us isn't as easy as you think.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Nimble Atlas robot ups its game again to conquer tricky terrain', 311 Institute, 3 December. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/atlas-robot-is-as-nimble-as-a-human-over-tricky-terrain/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
After showing off it's impressive better-than-a-human balancing skills to the world earlier this year it looks like the worlds most advanced humanoid robot, Atlas, from Boston Dynamics has a new party trick thanks to a new algorithm created at the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC). And while you might be forgiven for thinking that walking across tricky terrain is nothing special, let me remind you that in order for you just to stand still your brain and your muscles are making thousands of adjustments and calculations every second.
Go on try it... see?
So trying to get a robot to do it, particularly a bi-pedal robot is an astonishing feat, and as they get better at it, yes, one day they'll be able to sprint down the street or through woods after you when the robot rising eventually comes, or, alternatively, when they take over the police force.
Think about that... now get onto that running machine down the gym.
The IHMC's Atlas team says that the new control algorithm works by helping Atlas determine a solid foothold by letting it shift the weight of its outstretched foot to figure out what the optimum balance is, and once a steady footing is achieved it then does a quick step onto the next position, heaving its torso up and moving its other leg forward. And so on and so on. You get the picture.
Furthermore Atlas doesn't need to know what sort of terrain is coming up next, and is capable of maintaining balance even when its foot is placed on thin contact points, such as building blocks set at an angle and, bearing in mind that one of Atlas' possible applications is for it to be used in search and reduce missions this might be a handy skill to have but one day it'll inevitably pose a problem for the team because once it becomes autonomous, which will simply be a matter of when not if, then it'll be able to go off on its own with impunity.
The video below shows the robot's steady progress across a brick-strewn divide.
What this means for your organisation
Balance opens up real environments.
Most sites are not flat, so balance limits where robots can work. Atlas can now cope without knowing what terrain comes next. Operations leaders should list tasks on uneven ground that robots could take on.
Rescue is an early use case.
Search and rescue missions need robots that cross rubble safely. Better footing makes humanoids useful where wheels fail. Emergency services should follow trials closely.
Autonomy raises control questions.
Once such robots act on their own, oversight becomes critical. Rules on where and how they operate will matter. Set governance for autonomous machines before you deploy them.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our tasks on rough ground could a humanoid robot do?
- How would we oversee robots that act autonomously?
- When should we start pilots with general purpose robots?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
We take many of the things we do as humans for granted, such as balancing, but our bodies make thousands of adjustments every second just standing still and getting a robot to mimic what comes naturally to us isn't as easy as you think.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Boston Dynamics bostondynamics.com
- Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition ihmc.us
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 3 December 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Nimble Atlas robot ups its game again to conquer tricky terrain. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/atlas-robot-is-as-nimble-as-a-human-over-tricky-terrain/
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