Humanoid robots have long captured our imagination. Interest has skyrocketed along with the perception that robots are getting closer to taking on a wide range of labor-intensive tasks. What is driving this vision is not a preference for the human form but a recognition that humans are generalists—adaptable, quick to learn, and effortlessly retaskable.
This stands in contrast with decades of industrial automation, which have led to enormous gains in productivity by narrowing the scope of solutions to well-bounded tasks. However, designing systems that can scale economically to address the high diversity and stiff requirements of industrial labor tasks remains a significant open challenge.
In this discussion, we reflect on what we’ve learned by observing factory floors, and why we’ve grown convinced that chasing generalization in manipulation—both in hardware and behavior—isn’t just interesting, but necessary. We’ll discuss AI research threads we’re exploring at Boston Dynamics to push this mission forward, and highlight opportunities our field should collectively invest more in to turn the humanoid vision, and the reinvention of manufacturing, into a practical, economically viable product.
About the Presenters
Alberto Rodriguez
Director of Robot Behavior, Atlas
Alberto Rodriguez is the Director of Robot Behavior in the Atlas humanoid project at Boston Dynamics, where he leads teams working in controls, perception, planning, and machine learning behavior to bring the Atlas humanoid to scale. Alberto enjoys working at the intersection of hardware and software to build robots with physical intelligence. Before joining Boston Dynamics, he was a faculty member at the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT and Director of the MCube Lab.
Aya Durbin
Product Lead, Humanoid Applications
Aya Durbin is a product leader recognized for transforming complex robotic technologies into intuitive, high-impact products that solve real-world problems. With a career spanning the evolution of automation and humanoid systems, she has built a reputation for bridging the gap between cutting-edge engineering and customer value. At 6 River Systems, Aya led the product vision for warehouse automation solutions that redefined efficiency in the logistics industry. Following the company’s acquisition by Shopify, she designed and deliver scalable fulfillment products supporting over 100 warehouses across North America and Europe. Now at Boston Dynamics, Aya leads the Atlas application strategy, shaping how humanoid robots can seamlessly integrate into human environments and bring meaningful value to people’s everyday work.
