The world’s most advanced robot just learnt Parkour
Humans evolve at a biological rate, technology evolves at an exponential rate, and ATLAS is improving all the time.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'The world’s most advanced robot just learnt Parkour', 311 Institute, 18 November. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/atlas-the-worlds-most-advanced-robot-just-learnt-parkour/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
The majority of people like to assume that one day we will live, work and eat alongside robots in perfect harmony in the happy knowledge that we both have flaws. Humans need food, and robots are as nimble and as agile as a drunken panda at a teenagers eighteenth birthday party. But all that was before Boston Dynamics released their latest video of ATLAS, which is arguably the most advanced humanoid robot in existence.
In the past it’s shown off its superior balancing skills, its ability to resist being kicked over by a horrible member of the Boston Dynamics team, and its ability to walk through snow covered woods, but now all that seems like a distant memory because, as you’ll be able to see from the video below our favourite robot has a new trick. Well, several actually – it can do Parkour.
Back Flips, Forward Flips and Face Plants
Yes, forget it flesh bag, you still need food but your robot buddy that you used to laugh at because it couldn’t walk down a slope, or up a single step hasn’t just surpassed you, it’s flipped the tables on you.
Now go and dig into that ice cream tub and cry salty tears, and may I suggest you don't, I said don't watch the video of a robot racing nine times world champion Valentio Rossi around the race track.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Humans evolve at a biological rate, technology evolves at an exponential rate, and ATLAS is improving all the time.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 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." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief 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 program, 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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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 18 November 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). The world’s most advanced robot just learnt Parkour. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/atlas-the-worlds-most-advanced-robot-just-learnt-parkour/
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