Hydraulic Atlas

Hydraulic Atlas is Boston Dynamics' humanoid research platform for dynamic locomotion and manipulation. Across successive hydraulic versions, the programme explored whole-body balance, running, jumping, parkour and handling heavy or irregular objects. Its two-legged form allowed researchers to coordinate motion through the legs, torso and arms while moving around obstacles and interacting with objects.

Boston Dynamics introduced the first Atlas generation in 2013 and retired the hydraulic programme in April 2024. The final hydraulic generation, HD Atlas, developed manipulation alongside the programme's dynamic movement work. The all-electric Atlas introduced in 2024 began a separate hardware generation aimed at industrial applications. Hydraulic Atlas remains a historical research system whose demonstrations and technical results belong to the hydraulic platforms.