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

Figure AI unveils new humanoid robot with ‘three times’ more computing power than it had before

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Humanoid robotics startup Figure AI reveals new robot using Nvidia Isaac Sim for synthetic data and generative AI models trained on Nvidia accelerated computing for real-time inference

Silicon Valley’s Figure AI has taken the wraps off of its next-generation Figure 02 conversational humanoid robot that taps into Nvidia Omniverse and Nvidia GPUs for fully autonomous tasks.

Figure said it recently tested Figure 02 for data collection and use-case training at BMW Group’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, production line. [Read more…] about Figure AI unveils new humanoid robot with ‘three times’ more computing power than it had before

Toyota partners with Ready Robotics on robotic programming

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Ready Robotics, a provider of operating systems for automation and robotics, is collaborating with Toyota Motor Corporation and Nvidia to bring a “significant leap forward” in industrial robotics.

Toyota will employ Ready ForgeOS in tandem with Nvidia Isaac Sim, a robotics simulator developed on Nvidia Omniverse, to build a “state-of-the-art simulated robotic programming environment” for its aluminum hot forging production lines.

This groundbreaking collaboration is set to enhance safety and efficiency in Toyota’s manufacturing processes. [Read more…] about Toyota partners with Ready Robotics on robotic programming

InOrbit brings RobOps to advanced robot simulations powered by Nvidia

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InOrbit, provider of cloud-based robot operations (RobOps) software, is collaborating with Nvidia to “blend reality and simulation in robot deployments”.

This work takes the recently launched InOrbit missions to a new level, enabling end users such as logistics providers to define missions once, execute them in both simulated and real environments, and analyze the results through a single pane of glass, bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI-powered robotics technology and real-world applications at scale.

InOrbit leverages the Nvidia Isaac Sim extensible robotics simulator powered by Nvidia Omniverse to model complex environments and robot behaviors that closely match the real world. [Read more…] about InOrbit brings RobOps to advanced robot simulations powered by Nvidia

Nvidia unveils ‘major updates’ in new version of Isaac robotics simulation platform

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Nvidia unveiled “major updates” to the Nvidia Isaac Robotics platform at the recent ROSCon 2023 event.

The platform delivers performant perception and high-fidelity simulation to robotics developers worldwide.

These updates include the release of Nvidia Isaac ROS 2.0 and Nvidia Isaac Sim 2023.1 and perception and simulation upgrades that simplify building and testing performant AI-based robotic applications for ROS developers. [Read more…] about Nvidia unveils ‘major updates’ in new version of Isaac robotics simulation platform

Ready Robotics ‘making robotics system design easier’ for non-programmers

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Robotics hardware traditionally requires programmers to deploy it. Ready Robotics wants to change that with its “no code” software aimed at people working in manufacturing who haven’t got programming skills.

The Columbus, Ohio, startup is a spinout of robotics research from Johns Hopkins University. Kel Guerin was a PhD candidate there leading this research when he partnered with Benjamin Gibbs, who was at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, to land funding and pursue the company, now led by Gibbs as CEO.

Guerin, who’s now chief innovation officer at the startup, says: “There was this a-ha moment where we figured out that we could take these types of visual languages that are very easy to understand and use them for robotics.” [Read more…] about Ready Robotics ‘making robotics system design easier’ for non-programmers

Nvidia expands availability of its robotics development software and hardware

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Nvidia says it is making its robotics software and hardware more widely available.

The chipmaker says its Omniverse Cloud will be hosted on Microsoft Azure, increasing access to Isaac Sim, the company’s platform for developing and managing artificial intelligence-based robots.

The company also says that a full lineup of Jetson Orin modules is now available, offering a “performance leap” for edge AI and robotics applications. [Read more…] about Nvidia expands availability of its robotics development software and hardware

Soft Robotics using Nvidia simulation technology to develop its gripping system

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Soft Robotics has applied Nvidia Isaac Sim’s synthetic data to food processing automation in efforts to improve safety and increase production.

Developers have been striving to close the gap on robotic gripping for the past several years, pursuing applications for multibillion-dollar industries. Securely gripping and transferring fast-moving items on conveyor belts holds vast promise for businesses.

Soft Robotics, a Bedford, Massachusetts startup, is harnessing Nvidia Isaac Sim to help close the sim to real gap for a handful of robotic gripping applications. One area is perfecting gripping for pick and placement of foods for packaging. [Read more…] about Soft Robotics using Nvidia simulation technology to develop its gripping system

Reinforcing the value of simulation: Teaching dexterity to a real robot hand

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Nvidia researchers show how training in simulation enables the transfer of complex manipulation skills to a robot hand with project DeXtreme

The human hand is one of the most remarkable outcomes of millions of years of evolution. The ability to pick up all sorts of objects and use them as tools is a crucial differentiator allowing us to shape the world around us.

For robots to work in the everyday human world, the ability to deftly interact with our tools and the environment around them is critical. Without that capability, they will continue to be useful only in specialized domains such as factories or warehouses.

While it has been possible to teach robots with legs how to walk for some time, robots with hands have generally proven to be much trickier to control. A hand with fingers has more joints, and they must move in specific coordinated ways to accomplish a given task. [Read more…] about Reinforcing the value of simulation: Teaching dexterity to a real robot hand

Stilfold prepares to launch ‘industrial origami’ technology into space

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Swedish design and technology startup Stilfold is stepping into space, with an exciting new project that aims to identify applications for its origami-inspired manufacturing technology in outer space.

The startup – renowned for pushing the boundaries of design and innovation – is working with Sweden’s International Space Asset Acceleration Company (ISAAC) to discover how Stilfold’s “origami” manufacturing solution can be used for transporting and constructing materials in space.

ISAAC is an innovative new organization, founded by serial entrepreneur Mattias Hansson and backed by the European Space Agency and Sweden’s first astronaut Christer Fuglesang, which aims to strengthen innovation on Earth using knowledge and discoveries from outer space. [Read more…] about Stilfold prepares to launch ‘industrial origami’ technology into space