Boston Dynamics' Aya Durbin on taking humanoid robots from labs to factories

Boston Dynamics is advancing humanoid robots from research prototypes to practical tools for industrial use, aiming to address physically demanding, repetitive tasks in US factories that conventional automation struggles to handle. Aya Durbin, product lead for humanoid applications, highlights the transition from the hydraulic Atlas robot designed for research to the new all-electric Atlas built for real-world factory environments. This new version emphasizes human-like capabilities—such as reaching high, lifting heavy objects, and maneuvering in cluttered spaces—while ensuring reliability, manufacturability, and supportability for scaled production. Durbin explains that beyond hardware improvements, significant software development was necessary to enable Atlas to operate autonomously in complex industrial settings. The robot must quickly learn to manipulate diverse objects, adapt to various equipment, and be easily taught new tasks. Additionally, a user-friendly software interface allows human operators to monitor progress and intervene when needed. While Boston Dynamics acknowledges the ongoing role of specialized robots, they see humanoids like Atlas as uniquely suited for versatile tasks such as