Boston Dynamics’ Atlas Robot Does Gymnastics Routine in New Video

Should we be impressed or terrified?

On Tuesday, Boston Dynamics released a 38-second video that shows its Atlas robot performing a pretty solid gymnastics routine. The 330 pound humanoid showcases its handstand, somersaults, and a respectable split jump that many humans couldn’t pull off. Boston Dynamics said its team developed the routine faster than previous ones, “with a performance success rate of about 80%.”

“… We created the maneuvers using new techniques that streamline the development process. First, an optimization algorithm transforms high-level descriptions of each maneuver into dynamically-feasible reference motions,” the engineering company wrote in the video description. “Then Atlas tracks the motions using a model predictive controller that smoothly blends from one maneuver to the next.”

Atlas has continued to spark awe—and a little bit of fear—since it debuted its awkward walk back in 2013. The machine would evolve rapidly over the following years, eventually having the ability to balance on one leg, sprint, do a back flip, and even manipulate moving objects. 

You can check out the latest Atlas video above and Twitter users’ reactions below.