Robotics & Automation News

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Nvidia releases new blueprint for humanoid robotics developers

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Over the next two decades, the market for humanoid robots is expected to reach $38 billion, according to Goldman Sachs.

To address this significant demand, particularly in industrial and manufacturing sectors, Nvidia is releasing a collection of robot foundation models, data pipelines and simulation frameworks to accelerate next-generation humanoid robot development efforts.

Announced by Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang on Monday, January 6, at the CES trade show, the Nvidia Isaac GR00T Blueprint for synthetic motion generation helps developers generate exponentially large synthetic motion data to train their humanoids using imitation learning. [Read more…] about Nvidia releases new blueprint for humanoid robotics developers

Apple’s humanoid robot project: What do we know?

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Apple, the 3.7 trillion-dollar iPhone, iPad and Macintosh gigantico, is reportedly working with numerous companies and organisations in an effort to develop a humanoid robot – codenamed “Armor”.

According to Digitimes, Apple’s “entry into the humanoid robotics market is gaining momentum”. Meanwhile, PatentlyApple.com reports that Apple is working with Carnegie Mellon University and that Apple’s “new robot known as ‘ARMOR’, has been reveal” (sic).

Bloomberg, one of the world’s most authoritative financial news sources, says Apple is “in the early stages of figuring out the best way to use robotics”, and is already pushing ahead with a “tabletop robot”, the development of which is being overseen by the same person or people who were in charge of the much-heralded but never-realised Apple car. [Read more…] about Apple’s humanoid robot project: What do we know?

Foxconn and Nvidia agree partnership to develop humanoid robots

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In a significant move that could reshape the entire robotics industry going forward, Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn, has agreed a strategic partnership with the world’s largest computer chip maker, Nvidia, to develop advanced humanoid robots.

This is according to a report on a Taiwanese news website, which appears to have got the information from Foxconn’s head honcho, the Hon Hai chairman himself, Young Liu.

This collaboration aims to combine Foxconn’s extensive manufacturing expertise and Nvidia’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create robots capable of performing complex tasks across various industries. [Read more…] about Foxconn and Nvidia agree partnership to develop humanoid robots

Humanoid startup WorkFar Robotics plans to grow through ‘strategic acquisitions’

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WorkFar Robotics, a developer of humanoid and collaborative robotics, is teaming up with industry magnates to “spark the proliferation of humanoid robotic technology across the world” – in other words, to grow through acquisitions.

To WorkFar, leveraging external growth through mergers and acquisitions is a key step in the realization of this vision.

The goal of most startups is to be acquired by a larger conglomerate. However, WorkFar isn’t your average robotics startup. In fact, the company has been able to put together a market-ready, mass-produceable product even without receiving venture capital which is unheard of in humanoids.

So perhaps it’s expected that WorkFar would avoid following the well-trodden path, instead turning this path on its head so that the startup is the one to acquire other companies, instead of being acquired itself. [Read more…] about Humanoid startup WorkFar Robotics plans to grow through ‘strategic acquisitions’

Samsung Electronics becomes largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics

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Samsung Electronics has decided to become the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics to “accelerate future robot development such as humanoid robots”.

Rainbow Robotics is a startup that is developing and building a variety of robots – including collaborative robotic arms, quadruped or dog-like robots, and dual-armed humanoids – for the industrial sector.

Samsung first acquired a 14.7 per cent stake in the South Korean firm in 2023 with investment of KRW 86.8 billion (approximately $59 million), and is now exercising a call option to increase its stake to 35 per cent. Rainbow Robotics will also be incorporated as a subsidiary under Samsung Electronics’ consolidated financial statements.

Through collaboration with Rainbow Robotics, Samsung will further strengthen its foundation in the development of advanced robot technology. [Read more…] about Samsung Electronics becomes largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics

Will humanoid robots make industrial robotic arms obsolete?

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Two of the biggest trends we have noticed and covered over the past seven years or so since we started this website have been what are called “autonomous mobile robots”, or AMRs, and collaborative robotic arms, or “cobots”, which are different from traditional robotic arms in that they do not need to be kept separate and can be used much like power tools.

Traditional industrial robotic arms were generally too dangerous to be too close to. They don’t know you’re there and have the power to cause injury or death if they make contact with you in the course of doing their job.

But even these “traditional” industrial robots have increasingly become more collaborative through, for example, being installed with sensors to detect human presence or touch, and stop when they might cause harm. [Read more…] about Will humanoid robots make industrial robotic arms obsolete?

Robot Era unveils ‘groundbreaking’ new large computing model for general-purpose robotics

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Robot Era, a developer of embodied intelligence for robots, has officially launched its native end-to-end large computing model for robotics, calling it “ERA-42”, claiming it “sets a new benchmark in the robotics industry”.

Combining cutting-edge technology with its self-developed five-finger dexterous hand, Robot Era’s XHand1, the ERA-42 showcases unparalleled dexterous operation capabilities and opens the door to an era of universal dexterous operations for embodied large models. [Read more…] about Robot Era unveils ‘groundbreaking’ new large computing model for general-purpose robotics

Humanoid era: List of all the most prominent companies building humanoid robots

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2024 may be remembered as the year humanoid robots proliferated to the point where there can be no question that they will – whether we like it or not – become part of our lives in the not-too-distant future.

While they may still have technical limitations even today, many of the previous obstacles have now been smoothed out.

Such is the interest now in humanoid robots, Honda may even bring Asimo out of its locker or wherever it has been kept past few years. [Read more…] about Humanoid era: List of all the most prominent companies building humanoid robots

Humanoid robotics set to ‘transform industries with human-like dexterity and intelligence’, says GlobalData

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Humanoid robotics technologies are set to transform industries by offering “advanced dexterity, precision, and human-like capabilities”, according to a new study by GlobalData.

These developments promise to automate complex tasks, address labor shortages, and enhance operational efficiency across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and service industries, says the data and analytics research company.

Saurabh Daga, project manager of disruptive tech at GlobalData, says: “The rapid progress in humanoid robotics signals a turning point in robotics innovation. [Read more…] about Humanoid robotics set to ‘transform industries with human-like dexterity and intelligence’, says GlobalData