Robotics & Automation News

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humanoid robots

Boston Dynamics and LG Innotek to introduce ‘next-generation vision systems’ into Atlas humanoid robot

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Boston Dynamics, a developer of humanoid and mobile robotics, has agreed a new partnership with LG Innotek, the South Korean materials and electronic components manufacturing company.

This strategic alignment will enable Boston Dynamics to install LG Innotek’s “next-generation” vision sensing components into Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot.

The collaboration brings together Boston Dynamics’ and LG Innotek’s research teams to develop new vision sensing systems to address some of robotics hardest to solve problems. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics and LG Innotek to introduce ‘next-generation vision systems’ into Atlas humanoid robot

Opinion: ‘Specialized robots – not humanoids – will dominate robotics’, says Exotec CEO

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In an opinion piece published on the Fortune website, Romain Moulin, CEO of Exotec, argues that specialized robots, designed for specific tasks, are more efficient and cost-effective than humanoid robots.

This perspective, also highlighted in the Fortune article, suggests that the future of robotics lies in purpose-built machines rather than those mimicking human form.

Moulin uses the analogy of a dishwasher versus a humanoid robot washing dishes to illustrate his point: “The dishwasher is faster, more efficient, and vastly more cost-effective because it’s designed specifically for one task.” [Read more…] about Opinion: ‘Specialized robots – not humanoids – will dominate robotics’, says Exotec CEO

Spotlight on humanoids: A deep dive into Figure AI

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Founded in 2022, Figure AI, a US-based company, has quickly become a notable player in AI-powered humanoid robots.

In this article, we explore Figure AI’s technology, potential impact, and future within the robotics market. We will examine the company’s background, technology, applications, and prospects, considering the competitive landscape and challenges in installing humanoid robots at scale.

The intense early interest in Figure AI suggests a groundbreaking approach in the robotics sector, potentially addressing critical market needs with unique technological advantages. [Read more…] about Spotlight on humanoids: A deep dive into Figure AI

Canadian engineering graduates’ robotics startup Axibo raises $12 million

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A robotics company that started at McMaster University is looking to recruit a team of passionate engineers to pioneer “made in Canada” humanoid robots.

Axibo has raised $12 million to develop advanced humanoid robotics, with the goal of unveiling the first prototype early next year.

Anoop Gadhrri, Sohaib Al-Emara and Reiner Schmidt founded the company in 2019 as undergraduates in the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster. [Read more…] about Canadian engineering graduates’ robotics startup Axibo raises $12 million

Boston Dynamics interview: ‘Ghastly’ grace, the uncanny valley, and the dawn of humanoid utility

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The first time I saw a Boston Dynamics robot move, I genuinely thought there was a person inside the machine. Not literally, of course, but something about the fluidity of motion – the precision, the uncanny timing – seemed less robotic and more… alive, more human or at least more animalistic.

For years, I’d watched robots lumber around trade shows or on TV, carefully placing one foot in front of the other before promptly tipping over.

So, when Boston Dynamics released videos of Atlas backflipping and dancing with unsettling realism, I wasn’t the only one who found it both mesmerizing and a little eerie. One observer even called it “ghastly” – and not as an insult, but as a mark of awe. [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics interview: ‘Ghastly’ grace, the uncanny valley, and the dawn of humanoid utility

Humanoid robots could unlock $3 trillion US market, says Morgan Stanley

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A new, timely and detailed report outlines the rise of ‘embodied AI’ and maps the companies best positioned to lead the humanoid robotics revolution.

Humanoid robots could drive a $3 trillion total addressable market (TAM) in the United States alone, according to a new report by Morgan Stanley.

The global financial services company describes the emerging field as “embodied AI” – a combination of generative artificial intelligence and robotics hardware that may soon transform how labor is delivered across industries. [Read more…] about Humanoid robots could unlock $3 trillion US market, says Morgan Stanley

UPS explores use of humanoid robots from Figure AI to alleviate problems caused by labor shortages

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UPS, one of the world’s largest logistics companies, is in talks with robotics startup Figure AI to explore the potential deployment of humanoid robots in its logistics operations, according to Bloomberg, in what could become a significant milestone in warehouse automation.

The robots under discussion are Figure AI’s flagship model, the Figure 02 – a bipedal, AI-powered humanoid standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and capable of lifting up to 20 kilograms.

Designed to operate in environments built for humans, the robot is intended to perform physically repetitive tasks such as lifting, sorting, and transporting packages. [Read more…] about UPS explores use of humanoid robots from Figure AI to alleviate problems caused by labor shortages

The quiet race to build America’s first fully automated factory

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In anonymous industrial parks across the United States, a new kind of race is quietly under way – one that could redefine the future of American manufacturing.

Major companies and ambitious startups are investing billions in a dream once thought decades away: the fully automated, human-free factory.

Driven by rising labor costs, supply chain nationalism, and the accelerating power of AI and robotics, organizations like Tesla, Foxconn, and a growing list of automation startups are pushing toward a once-unimaginable goal – factories that run 24/7 with little or no human presence. [Read more…] about The quiet race to build America’s first fully automated factory

The coming price war in humanoid robotics: From industrial workers to household helpers. How much for each?

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As the race to commercialize humanoid robots intensifies, companies across the globe are staking their claim in a market that spans industrial powerhouses to everyday household helpers.

Once confined to research labs and sci-fi films, humanoid robots are now inching closer to mainstream reality – and price is emerging as one of the key battlegrounds.

A new generation of robots is being launched at dramatically different price points, reflecting divergent visions for how these machines will integrate into workspaces, homes, and public environments. [Read more…] about The coming price war in humanoid robotics: From industrial workers to household helpers. How much for each?

Dexterity launches dual-armed ‘superhumanoid’ robot

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Dexterity, a developer of robotics and physical AI, has launched what it describes as the world’s first “industrial superhumanoid” robot.

Named Mech, the new platform is designed to tackle strenuous and repetitive tasks in logistics and manufacturing environments – tasks traditionally handled by human workers.

Equipped with two powerful robotic arms mounted on a mobile base, Mech is built to autonomously navigate through warehouse aisles or industrial sites and perform physically demanding operations such as truck loading, palletizing, depalletizing, and order picking. [Read more…] about Dexterity launches dual-armed ‘superhumanoid’ robot