Boston Dynamics opens Metaplant Application Center to train Atlas humanoid robots

Boston Dynamics has opened a permanent facility called the Robotics Metaplant Application Center at an automotive manufacturing plant to train and test its Atlas humanoid robots on real factory tasks. The facility represents a shift from previous small-scale robot trials to a larger operation focused on collecting high-quality training data by having Atlas robots learn to handle automotive parts, which requires complex manipulation skills like grasping fragile components and managing awkwardly shaped items. The center is designed to prepare Atlas for broader deployment across manufacturing plants, with the parent company planning to deploy thousands of units globally over the coming years. Boston Dynamics expects to continue scaling up data collection and training through 2027, with plans to expand the facility significantly and eventually explore applications in other industries beyond automotive.