Boston Dynamics designed a fully proprietary joint actuator family for the new, all-electric Atlas (revealed in 2024). Each module integrates a brushless motor with a very high torque-density reducer, an integrated power-stage driver and advanced position and torque sensing — making every limb a torque-controlled drive.
A signature feature of electric Atlas is its ability to rotate joints continuously through 360° at the hip, knee, elbow and wrist — going beyond the human range of motion and enabling manoeuvres no human could perform. The actuators are strictly proprietary to Boston Dynamics and are not sold as a standalone component.
PMSM Joint Actuator · serves as: Joint Actuation, Precision Joint Motion, Torque Transmission, Balance and Posture Control, Closed-Loop Drive Control. · compatible with: Humanoid, Biped.
Which group Atlas Electric Actuator (Boston Dynamics, 2024) belongs to and how it is built
A PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) joint actuator is an integrated drive module that uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor to provide precise position, velocity, and torque control at robot joints. It offers high power density, low losses, and deterministic torque response, making it a popular choice in robotic manipulators, exoskeletons, and humanoid robots. The unit typically integrates an encoder, gearbox, and motor controller into a single compact assembly.
How Atlas Electric Actuator (Boston Dynamics, 2024) moves — force, torque and precision
Robots in which Atlas Electric Actuator (Boston Dynamics, 2024) is or can be used
