The Humanoid Report
Hydraulic Atlas (DARPA Robotics Challenge generation, 2013), front view
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Boston Dynamics Atlas

hydraulic

The hydraulic biped that set the parkour and backflip benchmark between 2013 and 2024.

EUDiscontinued–
USDiscontinued–
CNNot available–

Hydraulic Atlas (DARPA Robotics Challenge generation, 2013), front view · Photo: DARPA · Public domain · Source

The hydraulic Atlas was unveiled on 2013-07-11 with DARPA funding and oversight, initially for search and rescue, and used in the DARPA Robotics Challenge (2014-2015). Through videos in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 it demonstrated running, jumping, backflips, gymnastics and parkour. Boston Dynamics retired it on 2024-04-16 and revealed a fully electric Atlas the next day.

Our verdict

The robot that defined what a humanoid could do in a video; a research showcase that was never sold.

Video

Parkour Atlas
Boston Dynamics
Atlas | Partners in Parkour
Boston Dynamics
Atlas Gets a Grip | Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics
More Parkour Atlas
Boston Dynamics

Availability

EuropeDiscontinued

No public price

Never sold; retired 2024-04.

as of 2024-04 · Source

United StatesDiscontinued

No public price

Never sold; retired 2024-04.

as of 2024-04 · Source

ChinaNot available

No public price

Never sold.

as of 2024-04

Deployments

CustomerLocationTypeSinceSource
DARPA Robotics Challenge
Atlas robots competed in the 2014-2015 DARPA Robotics Challenge; IHMC's Atlas placed second in the 2015 finals.		USAResearch2014en.wikipedia.org

Timeline

  1. Hydraulic Atlas unveiled, developed with funding and oversight from DARPA.

  2. New Atlas version released in video: 150 cm, 80 kg.

  3. Video of Atlas jumping on boxes and performing a backflip.

  4. Parkour video with two Atlas robots; specs released: 1.5 m, 85 kg.

  5. Boston Dynamics retires the hydraulic Atlas; an electric Atlas is revealed on 2024-04-17.

Specs

Height
150 cm
Manufacturer claim
Weight
80-85 kg
Manufacturer claim
Degrees of freedom
20 (2021 video; the same article cites 28 for the design) DoF
Manufacturer claim

Sources

  1. Atlas (robot) Wikipedia · Oct 31, 2026

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