The Associated Press recently published a report that creating a robot that is both human-like and useful is an engineering dream inspired by popular science fiction for decades.
While the latest artificial intelligence (AI) craze has sparked another wave of investment to build humanoid robots, most of the existing robot prototypes are clumsy, inflexible, and better than real-life stage performances. However, that hasn't stopped a handful of startups from persevering in their efforts. The full text of the report is as follows:
The market is huge. Jonathan Hirst, co-founder and chief robotics officer at Agile Robotics, says that we really need humanoid robotsHearst deliberately describes Agile Robotics' warehouse robot "digital" as human-centric, not humanoid robots;The difference between the two is clearly to emphasize what it does, not what it is.
Currently, it is engaged in lifting and carrying heavy loads. Amazon announced in October that it would begin testing the use of warehouse robots "digital" in its warehousesIn September, Agile Robotics opened a factory in Oregon to mass-produce the robot.
The warehouse robot is "digital", with a head containing a camera, other sensors, lifelike eyes, and a torso that functions as an engine. It also has two arms and two legs, but its legs are more like birds than humans: it has a knee that resembles so-called toe-toed animals (such as birds, cats, and dogs, which walk on their toes, rather than flat feet).
Robotics competitors, such as "humanoid" AI companies, are taking a purist approach, arguing that only truly humanoid robots can effectively navigate workplaces, homes, and societies built for humans. The "humanoid" AI company also plans to start with relatively simple applications, such as retail warehousesBut the long-term goal is to build a commercial robot that can "iterate like an Apple phone" and take on the tasks of humans in various jobs as the global population declines in the birth rate.
Brett Adcock, CEO of Humanoid AI, said: "There is not enough manpower for these jobs, so the market is huge. If we could build humanoid robots to do jobs that humans don't want to do because of a shortage of manpower, we could sell millions, if not billions. ”
R&D is rapid. However, at the moment, Adcock's company does not have a prototype of the robot available for the market. Founded just a year ago and raising tens of millions of dollars, the company recently unveiled a 38-second "humanoid" robot walking through the company's testing facility in Sunnyvale, California.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, is also working to build humanoid robots called "Optimus Prime" with the help of its robotics divisionBut last year's exciting live demonstration, showing the robot's clumsy, staccato steps, did not impress experts in the field of robotics. Platronic, Tesla's neighbor in Austin, Texas, seems to have gone even further, which unveiled the "Apollo" humanoid robot in an online segment in August. The effort and money invested in building clumsy humanoid robots can make the entire business seem like a hobby for wealthy technologistsBut for some of the pioneers of legged robots, it's about learning along the way.
Mark Rebert, co-founder of Boston Dynamics, known for his "Spotted" robot dog, said that sometimes the road to development is not always easy. Boston Dynamics, now a subsidiary of the automaker Hyundai Group, has experimented with a humanoid robot capable of carrying boxes. "That led to the development of a new robot that was not actually a humanoid robot, but a robot with some of the characteristics of a humanoid robot," Rebert said via email. However, these changes have led to a new type of robot that can handle boxes faster, work longer hours, and be able to operate in tight spaces, such as trucks. As a result, humanoid robot research has led to a useful non-humanoid robot. ”
Some startups aiming to develop human-like machines are focusing more on improving the dexterity of robot fingers before making robots walk.
Exciting. Jody Ross, co-founder and CEO of British Columbia-based startup Temple AI, said the walking problem isn't "the hardest problem for humanoid robots to solve." The most difficult problem to solve is the ability to understand the world and operate with your hands."
Phoenix, the Phoenix, the Templar's most powerful and first-of-its-kind bipedal walking robot, can set up shelves, unload delivery vehicles and operate checkout counters, the initial ability to reach what Ross sees as a more long-term goal: to make robots perceive the real world and thus be able to reason in a way similar to intelligence. Similar to other humanoid robots, this means that it looks cute because the way it interacts with real people is its primary function.
"We want to be able to provide the world with a workforce, not just for one thing, but for all the people who need it," Ross said. These systems must be able to think like people. Therefore, we can call it general-purpose AI. But these systems must be able to understand speech, and they must be able to translate language understanding into action to meet the needs of jobs across the economy. ”
Agile Robotics' "digital" robot caught Amazon's attention because it can walk and move around in a way that complements the e-commerce giant's current fleet of robot trolleys that move large carts around its huge warehouse.
Right now, "digital" robots are being tested for repetitive packing and handling tasks. However, the mere introduction of robots to the post inevitably raises concerns that robots could replace humans;Amazon is working to prevent this narrative from taking root.
Damien Shelton, co-founder and CEO of Agile Robotics, says warehouse robots are just "the first use case" for a new generation of robots;As these robots prepare to make their way into businesses and homes, Sheldon wants them to be welcomed rather than worried.
So, in 10, 20 years, you're going to see these robots everywhere. It's very exciting that this human-centric robot will become a part of human life forever. (Compiled by Adrian Cheng).
A humanoid robot on display at the International Robot Exhibition on March 9, 2022. (AFP).
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