Boston Dynamics’ Atlas blends backflip and cartwheel in final research showcase

Boston Dynamics’ latest Atlas humanoid robot has pulled off a striking new feat, seamlessly combining a backflip with a cartwheel, as the company gives its research version a final outing before fully shifting focus to enterprise use.

In a newly released video, Boston Dynamics, alongside the RAI Institute, shows the electric Atlas executing the complex manoeuvre without losing balance or sustaining damage. The achievement marks steady progress for the new Atlas, which is gradually matching, and in some areas surpassing , the abilities of its earlier hydraulic predecessor, Atlas HD.

The company also offers a candid look at the development process. Several failed attempts are shown, with the robot tumbling during early trials. However, these missteps are treated as part of learning rather than setbacks, with Atlas often managing to catch itself while falling.

Improving speed and natural movement has proved more challenging. In some tests, Atlas crashes face-first or collides with obstacles such as pallets, occasionally shedding components. Despite this, researchers have succeeded in giving the robot a more human-like walking gait. Earlier versions of Atlas appeared stiff and slow, though this limitation had little impact on its commercial relevance.

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Boston Dynamics has now introduced a modified Atlas as an enterprise platform, designed for practical workplace applications rather than elegant movement. According to the company, the stunts shown in the video represent “one final push to test the limits” of the research model, signalling the end of an era for the original Atlas programme.