Parkour

For the Atlas team, parkour is the ideal laboratory in which to test out novel behaviors. We test Atlas' capabilities through vaults, balance beams, and jumps in order to uncover the newest in athletic intelligence, mobility, and perception.

Boston Dynamics' efforts to create the most horrifying robot currently feasible have gained almost universal acclaim, but their creations merit a place on any list of cutting-edge robotic achievements. Atlas, maybe their most sophisticated humanoid robot, was recently seen successfully navigating a series of obstacles, including a backflip at the conclusion. Although it may not appear to be much at first, before Atlas, it was very impossible to have a robot move the same way we do.

Atlas is certain to be used on a battlefield someday, even though it may have numerous civilian applications as well. Boston Dynamics has previously created militarized robotic dogs for DARPA, and it frequently works with military-grade prototypes. Practically speaking, creating robots that walk or run like humans does not offer any advantages beyond creating utter horror in the thoughts of whomever they are running toward.