[dachris]

It looks like the difference between the Boston Dynamics robots 2016 vs 2021

The Spot dog (which inspired the Black Mirror "Metalhead" episode) in 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf7IEVTDjng

Atlas doing backflips in 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FByY3tSx2Ak

So 5 years of progress within a year.

[tw1984]

spot dog is hydraulically powered junk, unitree is motor driven from day one. Boston Dynamics was forced to switch to a motor driven architecture after it is proven by unitree.

Boston Dynamics is the follower here.

[Pixelbrick]

I look after one at a University that gets used for teaching & outreach & there's definitely no hydraulics on the thing.

[cma]

They moved to motors from their older high speed hydraulics. I don't know if it was after unitree or not.

[faeyanpiraat]

why is hydraulics junk?

[AngryData]

Perhaps because of the potentially slower actuation speed, but you also generally get a lot more power from hydraulics so im not sure one can claim it is junk. Far less acrobatic, but also far more sumo wrestler.

[tencentshill]

Less fit for impressive youtube videos. I'm sure they have other boring utilities for the technology.