'We have not seen the limits of what Atlas can do': Boston Dynamics shows off Atlas robot's impressive fridge-lifting and drink delivery capabilities it's only 'limited by our imagination'

Date:
Mon, 18 May 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Description:
Atlas robot hefts 50lb fridge to deliver a single drink and yes, this is progress.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Boston Dynamics Atlas can deliver a drink It also delivers the refrigerator because it can lift up to 110 lbs. We also get a glimpse into how they're training the Atlas Product humanoid robots Atlas delivers a drink in much the same way The Hulk might do it: forget the can, bring the refrigerator. In a new video demo, were finally getting a good look at what the all-new Atlas Product humanoid robot can do, and its eye-opening, to be sure.

When I last saw the Atlas Product at CES 2026, it stood stiffly while the all-electric Atlas Prototype moved boxes and folded itself up almost accordion-style. The updated Product, though, has even more impressive moves, especially since no part of its body appears limited by typical human-level flexibility. Atlas, can you bring me a drink? | Boston Dynamics - YouTube Watch On Where you might be able to rotate your torso, at most, 90 degrees, Atlas can spin its upper body a full 360-degrees, a skill that turns out to
be quite useful for delivering a frosty cold drink. The new robot, according to a Boston Dynamics release delivered in January, has 56 degrees of freedom, can replace its own battery, and lift up to 110 pounds. Latest Videos From
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Boston Dynamics actually delivered two videos on Monday (May 18), and while the one of the Atlas Product robot hefting a refrigerator and delivering it
to a lab tech so they can retrieve a cold drink is fun to watch, its the second, deep dive video on how Boston Dynamics trains Atlas, and why they chose to demonstrate its skills in this slightly comical way, that's worth watching. Atlas practicesa lot Unlike many other humanoid robots, Atlass
first job wont be in the home, and much of the development work has been in service of delivering a system that is low-cost, simple, reliable, and can easily slip into a manufacturing role. Perhaps thats why, while Altas resembles the human form, its far less so than, say, Neo Bot , Telsa Optimus
, or Figure 03 from Figure AI. You could argue, though, that its design makes Atlas faster, more agile, and perhaps far more ready to deliver a heavy package from Spot A to Spot B.

In the video, Atlas lifts an unplugged, 50LB mini fridge and carries it over to a table, where it gingerly places it down before stepping aside and watching the researcher retrieve a canned beverage. 50Lbs is significant, but the researchers noted that in lab tests, they had Atlas effortlessly lifting 100lbs. In both instances, the goal was somewhat human-like effort. A tool basically that is similar to humans, which means it needs to start
interacting with objects. And objects come in all shapes and forms, says Boston Dynamics Atlas Research Engineer Vinay Kamidi.

Atlas doesnt just lift the fridge. "Put your whole body into it, was kind of the idea," notes Boston Dynamics Atlas Controls Associate Director Benjamin Stephens. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. How does Atlas learn? | Inside the Lab | Boston Dynamics - YouTube Watch On Getting Atlas to perform this skill without mishaps is the product of lengthy, visualized training. The researchers start with an animation of the task and then, within the computer, run millions of hours of simulations where the robot practices lifting, carrying, and placing the refrigerator.

By the time they ran the program on the real Atlas hardware, it performed the task perfectly.

Its funny to think that a robot that can perform a back flip, relatively few humans can do, takes millions of simulated attempts to learn a task that a human could master in moments. AI is speeding up the simulation process, however, and Boston Dynamics researchers are not only excited about its current beverage-delivery capabilities but also about what the future holds.

"We have not seen the limits of what Atlas can do, says Atlas Software Engineer Shane Rozen-Levy, in the video, and the future is only limited by
our imagination." Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/we-have-not-seen-the-limits- of-what-atlas-can-do-boston-dynamics-shows-off-atlas-robots-impressive-fridge- lifting-and-drink-delivery-capabilities-its-only-limited-by-our-imagination


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