Atlas robot performs acrobatic backflip with stability

Boston Dynamics continues to refine its famous humanoid robot Atlas, which can now perform a complex trick: a backflip with a wheel turn. A new video, produced in collaboration with the RAI Institute, shows the robot executing this acrobatic maneuver without losing balance or sustaining damage.

Earlier attempts at similar tricks resulted in falls and lost parts, but the updated version has learned to combine the flip with a wheel rotation while maintaining stability. Atlas has also significantly improved its gait, walking more naturally to create smoother, less robotic movements. Despite the apparent ease of execution, the company includes footage of unsuccessful moments, such as falls or collisions with obstacles. These incidents aren't critical, as Atlas can independently regain balance and continue its task.

The upgraded Atlas is being released as a corporate product. According to Boston Dynamics, current tests demonstrate the robot's limits by blending acrobatics, stability, and realistic walking. This marks another step toward integrating humanoid robots into commercial and research projects.