This robot is assembled in about a day. And next year they want to fit into an hour. Boston Dynamics showed how the humanoid Atlas is created: from metal blanks to the assembled machine. The video was released on October 14.
What the video showed
- precision parts, including gears, are made at the company's own production;
- engineers and machinists work side by side: if the design has to change, an updated part can be obtained the same or the next day;
- machining, assembly and repair are brought together in one place: the robot is assembled, checked, refined and returned to testing.
How long assembly takes
According to the team, a year ago building one Atlas was a big event. Now assembly takes about a day. The next goal is about an hour, and in the longer run, minutes.
But an hour is still a plan. The assembly time of one robot also does not mean that the factory releases a finished machine every hour: testing, repair and parts supply affect the line.
Why this matters
The humanoid race is also a race of factories. The winner is not the one who showed the best video but the one who builds, repairs and improves robots faster. It is the speed of the cycle part, assembly, test, refinement that will decide whose humanoids become a mass product.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to assemble Atlas?
According to Boston Dynamics, about a day. The goal for next year is about an hour.
How many Atlas robots are built per day?
The company has not said. The assembly time of one robot is not the same as the output of the factory.
Can Atlas be bought?
Public sales have not been announced. For other humanoids that can be ordered, see our catalog.
