Machine, Assemble, Repair: How We Build Atlas | Boston Dynamics

In this talk

1. 0:14

   Prototype Operations scales robot development

   Prototype Operations brings manufacturing discipline to prototype builds and supports research and development across building, testing, and maintenance. Its own shop handles work that outside suppliers often decline because of the tight tolerances involved.

2. 1:16

   A precision shop makes unusual parts

   Having machining in-house lets engineers and machinists adjust designs quickly and produce high-quality parts at speed. The team develops machining methods as well as parts, including specialized gear cutting, while considering tool choice and cost.

3. 2:13

   Specialized equipment expands what engineers can try

   The shop combines advanced machining equipment with robot arms on the assembly line, and the team keeps adding capabilities. With around 600 engineers relying on it, the shop finds ways to make parts for designs that may be new.

4. 3:02

   Faster builds sharpen the feedback loop

   Building a robot has shifted from a major event to a process that takes about a day. The team expects that to fall to roughly an hour the following year, then minutes in later years; quick iteration can take an idea from Monday to implementation by week’s end.

5. 3:57

   End-to-end work connects parts to robots

   Team members collaborate with engineers from project planning through completion, and can see parts assembled into robots soon after machining. Seeing those robots operate, whether in a factory or the Atlas lab, makes the work tangible and rewarding.