Toyota and Boston Dynamics Collaborate on an AI Robot

The world has been turning to higher levels of technology with the aim of achieving both the possible and the impossible. That includes implementing Artificial Intelligence and robotics in many ways to utilize them on a global scale. Toyota has been involved in the development of these technologies through the Toyota Research Institute.  

In partnership with Boston Dynamics, they took a major step forward with the Large Behavior Model powering the Atlas humanoid robot. This robot was created to accomplish complex tasks requiring object manipulation through locomotion. This is done without writing a single line of code or any manual operation or programming. 

In recent testing of the robot’s capabilities, Atlas utilized whole-body movements to accomplish a series of packing, sorting, and organizational tasks. A video from Boston Dynamics showed that Atlas was walking, crouching, and lifting. During task sequences, the researchers were shown moving a bin away from Atlas. The robot adjusted itself to retrieve the bin back to its original position by moving its legs and using its arms and hands. This is considered a breakthrough for the implementation of the Large Behavior Model in humanoid robots.  

The project was under the direction of Scott Kuindersma of Boston Dynamics and Russ Tedrake of the Toyota Research Institute, in collaboration towards answering the fundamental questions of utilizing humanoid robots and Large Behavior Models in the real world. They aimed to understand how they interact with tasks through whole-body control through a large model, about human size. They observed how these robots are able to manipulate themselves through dynamic behaviors within the framework of AI technology. Through AI technology, there is the possibility that robots can be produced to assist with many tasks as general-purpose humanoid assistants. They are also known as “smart robots.” 

It all sounds like science fiction, but there may be a practical purpose for using smart robots in real-world scenarios. Not just in a research environment, but also in future workplaces. Specifically, in spaces where human abilities are not available to accomplish certain tasks.  

This shows one of many aspects of what Toyota does as a company, not just by taking the lead in technological breakthroughs, but in answering questions that have been in the back of many minds. Toyota’s research capabilities and efforts are such that they can be life-changing. Yet, we are very far away from utilizing them in today’s world. Consider these efforts and experiments towards the future – including our own vehicles.  

Some of the research into new technology that Toyota has been involved in has already been implemented in today’s vehicles. It is as easy as asking, “Hey, Toyota.”  

To see how our researchers have transformed your next new vehicle, contact us at Valley Hi Toyota, and we can show you the results by demonstrating new features and making good use of our technology inside our vehicles.