The Atlas humanoid robot tried to perform a backflip. Here’s what transpired.
Did it succeed in accomplishing it?
At the recent CES 2026 technology showcase in Las Vegas, Boston Dynamics unveiled the latest iteration of its sophisticated Atlas humanoid robot, a project that has been in development for over ten years.
The robot walked onto the stage with such a realistic gait that many attendees likely questioned whether the creators had somehow placed a human inside. However, it was indeed a fully humanoid robot.
During what seemed to be a side event at last week’s tech exhibition, Boston Dynamics took a moment to entertain a small crowd by having the Atlas robot perform a backflip.
A video (below) of the performance shows the few attendees counting down as Atlas gets ready for the task. However, the backflip didn’t entirely succeed...
As seen in the footage, while Atlas managed to complete a full midair rotation and land on its feet, the landing wasn’t perfect, and the robot stumbled briefly before regaining its balance. Additionally, it lost the cap for the gripper on its right hand as it returned to the ground with a bit of a clatter.
Though it wasn’t a flawless landing (possibly due to what appeared to be a slippery surface), it was quite impressive how the robot quickly adjusted itself to avoid a more disastrous landing. This recovery showcased remarkable computational abilities, with the robot's numerous joints moving at remarkable speed to keep Atlas upright.
Those who keep track of the work of Boston Dynamics from Massachusetts may remember that this isn’t the first time Atlas has performed a backflip. An earlier version of the bipedal robot accomplished the same feat eight years ago, although it did so from a higher position, allowing it more time and space for the maneuver. More recently, Atlas executed the move while dressed in a Santa suit.
Regarding this latest attempt, it seemed to be both an entertaining act and a demonstration of the robot’s capacity to coordinate complex movements quickly. While it doesn’t reveal much about Atlas’s applicability for tasks in environments like factories and warehouses, Boston Dynamics has already shared videos showcasing how its robot could be utilized in such circumstances.
Not so long ago, Trevor relocated from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)...
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