Boston Dynamics announced a new collaboration with the Toyota Research Institute (TRI) on Tuesday to develop versatile humanoid robots. Boston Dynamics will lend its innovative electric Atlas robot to this initiative, while TRI will harness the capabilities of its advanced Large Behavior Models.
Founded in 1992 as a spin-off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston Dynamics has consistently been at the cutting edge of robotic technology for over three decades. The company gained public attention with its BigDog and LittleDog quadrupeds in 2009 and introduced the first version of the bipedal Atlas robot in 2013. Over the past ten years, Atlas has evolved remarkably, advancing its ability to perform complex acrobatics and dexterity exercises, including dancing, executing backflips, navigating parkour courses, and tackling simulations of construction tasks.
In April 2024, Boston Dynamics phased out its hydraulic Atlas in favor of a new model powered by electric servos. This new electric Atlas is touted as “one of the most sophisticated humanoid robots ever created,” capable of movements that surpass human abilities.
On the other hand, TRI is a leader in the development of Large Behavior Models (LBMs), which can be likened to how large language models (LLMs) function for chatbots. While LLMs are trained on vast multi-modal datasets to respond to human queries naturally, LBMs utilize extensive datasets of human actions, allowing robots to perform tasks in a more human-like fashion. These models also enable robots to learn new behaviors and adapt across various tasks. According to a recent blog post, “TRI’s research on LBMs aims to develop multitask, vision-and-language-conditioned foundational models for intricate manipulation.”
According to Gill Pratt, chief scientist for Toyota and CEO of TRI, “Recent strides in AI and machine learning hold great promise for enhancing physical intelligence. The opportunity to apply TRI’s cutting-edge AI technologies on Boston Dynamics’ hardware represents a pivotal moment for both organizations as we strive to empower individuals and enhance overall quality of life.”
This announcement coincides with a growing number of companies venturing into robotics for workforce applications. For instance, Agility Robotics’ Digit and Figure’s models 01 and 02 are currently undergoing trials in industrial environments, including BMW’s Spartanburg facility in South Carolina and a Spanx production line in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Tesla’s Optimus is also in the mix, but the latest models still require remote operation for anything beyond basic tasks.
