Apollo developer Apptronik is working with third-party logistics provider GXO on a proof of concept. Source: GXO Logistics

Over the past year, humanoid robots have moved from science fiction to early commercial trials. GXO Logistics Inc. today announced that it is conducting an early-stage proof-of-concept program with robot manufacturer Apptronik Inc. GXO said it has partnered with developers to help shape their humanoid prototypes to satisfy the logistics industry’s needs.

“We’re excited to partner with Apptronik to develop their AI-enabled humanoid robot,” stated Adrian Stoch, chief automation officer at GXO Logistics. “Apollo has great potential to add value throughout the distribution center, including the most labor-intensive operational processes.”

“These kinds of robotics reduce repetitive work and improve safety while freeing associates to focus on higher-value-added activities,” he added. “As we progress on our R&D journey with Apptronik, we’ll also be evaluating its capability for other critical use cases along the way.”

Greenwhich, Conn.-based GXO Logistics claimed that it is “the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider,” benefitting from the rapid growth of e-commerce, automation, and outsourcing. The company has more than 130,000 team members across more than 970 facilities totaling approximately 200 million sq. ft.

Stoch participated in a panel on the state of warehouse automation at last month’s Robotics Summit & Expo.

Apptronik designs Apollo to collaborate with humans

Spun out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin in 2016, Apptronik has built Apollo to work alongside people. It is the culmination of the design and development of more than 10 general-purpose robots, including extensive work on NASA’s Valkyrie.

Apollo is 5 ft. 8 in. (172.7 cm.) tall, can carry 55 lb. (24.9 kg), and uses swappable batteries for extended runtimes, according to Apptronik. The Austin-based company said its system uses linear actuators that mimic the mechanics of human muscles and provide a full range of mobility.

In March, Apptronik said it is integrating Apollo with NVIDIA Corp.‘s foundation model for robot learning as part of Project GR00T. It also announced that automaker Mercedes-Benz is testing the humanoid robot.

Apollo’s force-control architecture and flexible safety-zone perimeter allow it to work safely around and directly with people, said Apptronik and GXO. The companies said they are jointly evaluating the robot‘s performance in a laboratory setting to fine-tune Apptronik’s AI model before deploying the technology to a GXO distribution center somewhere in the U.S.  

“Our mission is to build versatile robots that can do work in real-world applications – from large, powerful movements like transporting boxes and totes to small, precise ones like picking individual items or scanning barcodes,” said Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, who spoke at last year’s Robotics Summit & Expo, among other events.

“That’s why we’re committed to helping technology leader GXO optimize its logistics operations and create an even safer, more engaging workplace for its employees with the help of Apollo,” Cardenas said. “The two phases of this R&D program represent essential steps toward the launch of an innovative scalable automation solution for GXO.”

GXO tests multiple humanoid robots

GXO Logistics had been testing the Digit humanoid from Agility Robotics, which won the RBR50 Robot of the Year Award. While humanoids have been a popular topic of discussion at the past year’s conferences and trade shows, Digit and Apollo are among the very few to progress to commercial testing.

Last year, GXO said it has increased its total units of warehouse automation by about 50% year over year. It also trialed a wide range of new hardware and software, including AI-powered robotics and autonomous vehicles.

The post Apollo humanoid robot in tests by Apptronik and GXO for warehouse use appeared first on The Robot Report.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang at GTC 2024 with images of many of the humanoids in development. The IEEE study group is evaluating humanoid robots and the need for standards. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

As humanoid robots garner widespread public attention, such systems will also need to stand up to safety and performance standards. IEEE’s Robotics & Automation Society today announced the formation of a new study group that will look into the current humanoid landscape and then develop a roadmap for future standards that various organizations can follow.

Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous systems programs at ASTM International will chair the humanoid study group. The group is open to others across industry, academia, government agencies, and fellow standards development organizations (SDOs), said the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

IEEE study group has a year to deliver analysis

The IEEE Robotics & Automation Society (RAS) has given the study group up to a year to produce the final deliverables. They include:

1. A current landscape analysis of standards that can or cannot be applied to humanoid robots. An example of this would be how much of the current ANSI/RIA R15.08 Safety for Industrial Mobile Robots applies to humanoids.
2. Identify current gaps in the existing standards framework. This includes any gaps in topics ranging from safety to performance that need to be addressed. The group also plans to identify gaps in areas such as industrial use versus home use or service use.
3. Identify potential roadblocks in addressing the gaps found. This could be due to a lack of information or because not enough research has been done, or the technology is not yet at a state to justify developing a standard at this time.
4. Develop a roadmap for future standards development that both addresses the gaps as well as mitigates potential roadblocks. The roadmap could also identify which SDOs are best fit to do the necessary work based on the ultimate goal for each standard.

Why develop humanoid standards now?

Interest in humanoid robots has exploded recently. From academics to industry, many people see humanoids the ideal form factor for addressing issues in a world designed around humans. Billions of dollars of both private and public money are being invested into humanoids. However, the lack of standards though could slow this development if not addressed quickly, noted IEEE.

“In the past, standards development organizations would wait to develop a standard until after robot had hit the market,” stated Prather, who will be speaking at RoboBusiness 2024. “However, humanoid robots are being developed so quickly for both the academic lab and the factory and warehouse floors, we really don’t have time to wait until the proverbial robot feet hit the floor.”

“By bringing key stakeholders across the spectrum together now, not only can we identify the current landscape and where the gaps and potential problems are, but we can [also] quickly get a roadmap out on what us SDOs need to work on and cut down on the time standards for humanoids are developed,” he added. “You can find the fastest path to your goal with a map to follow.”

Prather is a notable skeptic of the near-term value of humanoid robotics, but he told The Robot Report that one of the reasons he was asked to lead the IEEE study group was to ensure rigor and impartiality. Prather said he plans to have this study group’s first virtual meeting in July.

There is no limit on the number of participants or on how many people can help produce the final deliverables. However, the organization will give preference to those with crucial knowledge of humanoids and the standards-development process.

Those interested in learning more about the study group and how to get involved can visit this IEEE website: https://www.ieee-ras.org/industry-government/standards/active-projects/study-group-humanoid-robots

The post IEEE launches study group to explore and develop humanoid robot standards appeared first on The Robot Report.

ROBOTIS designed its Dynamixel-Y line of high-precision modular actuators forobotics applications. | Source: ROBOTIS

Robots including humanoids are complex and typically require components from multiple suppliers. Tokens.com Corp., now known as Realbotix, this week announced a strategic partnership with ROBOTIS Inc.

The companies said the agreement designates robotics and artificial intelligence developer Realbotix as an official partner to facilitate integration with technologies from ROBOTIS. As part of the agreement, Realbotix will have preferred purchaser status and pricing for ROBOTIS components, including its DYNAMIXEL line of actuators and motors.

The collaborators claimed that these actuators and motors allow for smoother, more human-like movements for Realbotix’s robot line.

ROBOTIS provides parts for a range of robots 

Seoul, South Korea-based ROBOTIS is a manufacturer of robotic hardware. It specializes in components and full robot platforms for use in all fields of study and industry. It has also offered systems based on the Robot Operating System (ROS) and educational robotics kits for all ages and skill levels. 

The company’s DYNAMIXEL line of modular actuators comes in various sizes, power levels, and features. 

In addition to its robot components, ROBOTIS also offers an indoor and an outdoor delivery robot. It said these robots are capable of autonomous deliveries of food, beverages, and parcels in urban areas, apartment communities, hotels, and offices. 

Inside Realbotix’s human-like robots

“Partnering with ROBOTIS Inc., a leader in advanced robotic technologies, allows us to integrate their state-of-the-art motors into our innovative customizable robots,” stated Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix.

“This collaboration enhances our product capabilities and expands our market reach,” he added. “Together, we are poised to push the boundaries of what’s possible in robotics and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

Realbotix is a developer of humanoid robotics and relationship-based AI. The San Marcos, Calif.-based company said it is creating customizable robots with human-like appearance and movements. 

In addition, Realbotix asserted that it specifically developed its proprietary AI for human companionship. It asserted that its strength is in the integration of companionship AI and robotics to improve the human condition through connection, learning, and play. Realbotix said its algorithms are also customizable, allowing users to choose how their robots behave and speak.

Realbotix’s robots have a modular structure, which the company says allows for easier maintenance, support, and upgrades. The company offers customizable faces, created with human-synthetic skin, that have 14 movable points. Having more moveable points means the robots can show off a wider range of facial expressions. 

The post ROBOTIS and Realbotix become official development partners appeared first on The Robot Report.

Ubtech says its humanoid robots can be used in industrial manufacturing, exhibition halls, warehousing and logistics, commercial office services, home services, and college and research institutions. | Source: Ubtech Technologies

Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation, signed an agreement for UBTECH’s Walker S humanoid robot. The companies did not specify the number of robots that will be deployed or the number of facilities they’ll be at. Additionally, it’s unclear if this is a pilot or if the robots will be officially working at Dongfeng Motor for the foreseeable future. 

Since the partnership just [began], our robots need to receive training first, and then they will undertake tasks in the factory soon,” Wenyi Rao, PR manager at UBTECH, told The Robot Report. 

The Walker S humanoid will be performing various tasks in the car manufacturing process. These include safety belt inspection, door lock inspection, headlight cover inspection, body quality inspection, rear compartment inspection, interior final inspection, fluid filling, front axle assembly, assembly picking, car logo application, configuration writing, and label printing, a spokesperson from UBTECH told The Robot Report. 

DongFeng highlighted that the humanoids will be working with traditional automation equipment, allowing them to handle complex scenarios in unmanned production.

“This will not only bring greater improvement to Dongfeng Motor’s intelligent manufacturing level, but will also become a new style of intelligent manufacturing in the automotive industry, and will accelerate the scene-based and large-scale application of humanoid robots in the automotive industry,” Lin Changbo, General Manager of Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, told GizmoChina.

Walker S humanoid robot

The Walker S humanoid is 1.7 m tall (around 5.58 feet), and is equipped with force-compliant drive joints and rigid-flexible coupling hybrid structures. The company says these features enable it to walk stable on mobile production lines.

“Walk S is designed for inspection, assembly, and logistics tasks. We aim to enhance manufacturing capabilities and promote humanoid robots in the automotive industry,” Changbo told CarNewsChina.

The robot has 41 servo joints with force feedback, and multiple visual, audio, and distance sensors. These come with multi-model sensor fusion and dynamic environment expiration capabilities. UBTECH says the robot can perceive its surroundings, including humans and objects.

Walker S also includes built-in high-resolution RGBD visual sensors, which allow it to observe the surrounding environment, create 3D semantic maps, and design walking routes while avoiding obstacles.

This year, UBTECH says it has been focusing on deploying its humanoids in several industrial fields, including car and consumer electronic product manufacturing. 

“By enhancing the manipulative and task execution capabilities of humanoid robots, we hope to introduce humanoid robots to production lines and factories, bringing the industrial manufacturing process from automation to flexibility, unmanned operation, and intelligent manufacturing,” Wenyi Rao, PR manager at UBTECH, told The Robot Report. 

China plans to mass-produce humanoids by 2025

In November 2023, Beijing’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which oversees the country’s industrial sector, published a guideline detailing goals for the country’s ambitions to develop humanoids. The MIIT said humanoids were likely to become another disruptive technology, similar to computers or smartphones, that could transform the way we produce goods and the way humans live.

According to the document, China aims to mass-produce humanoids by 2025. To do this, the country aims to establish a humanoid innovation system, make breakthroughs in several key technologies, and ensure the safe and effective supply of core components. The document says that by 2027, humanoids should be an important new engine of economic growth in China.

The Chinese guidelines say industries like healthcare, home services, agriculture, and logistics will likely see a rise in the use of robots in the coming years. The country also wants to put effort into developing humanoids to work in harsh and dangerous conditions and within the manufacturing sector.

Humanoids making their way into automotive

It’s been an exciting year for humanoids within the automotive industry, although the jury is still out on where exactly humanoids will best fit into operations. In January, BMW announced it is testing Figure AI’s 01 humanoid at its Spartanburg, S.C. plant. In the first phase, the company has been identifying the initial tasks its robot could perform. Brett Adcock, Figure’s founder and CEO, said the initial tasks include moving bins and boxes and other “various logistics things” inside the BMW body shop.

Just a few months later, Mercedes-Benz began testing Apptronik’s Apollo humanoid. The companies are identifying applications for the robot. For example, Mercedes-Benz is exploring how well Apollo can bring parts to the production line for workers to assemble, while simultaneously inspecting the components. Apollo will also be tested at delivering totes of kitted parts later in the manufacturing process.

In April, Magna and Sanctuary AI entered into a strategic partnership. Sanctuary said it plans to automate various tasks and to improve the quality and efficiency of its manufacturing and logistics processes.

This likely won’t be the last humanoid to go to work in the automotive industry. Earlier this year, Boston Dynamics unveiled an electric version of its Atlas humanoid. The company says the robot is designed for commercialization. Boston Dynamics is owned by Hyundai, so its parent company may want to eventually try out these robots. In February, Boston Dynamics released a video showing its Atlas humanoid picking and placing automotive struts.

The post Chinese automaker to use UBTECH humanoid appeared first on The Robot Report.

Here are the top 10 most popular stories on The Robot Report in May 2024. Subscribe to The Robot Report Newsletter or listen to The Robot Report Podcast to stay updated on the robotics stories you need to know about.

10. Kawasaki Robotics gives first look at its collaborative robots

Kawasaki Robotics (USA) Inc. gave a first look at its new CL family of collaborative robots at Automate. The company also showed off new applications using the Kawasaki R Series and BX Series of industrial robots. Read More

9. iRobot’s new CEO on cleanup duty after Amazon deal fails

iRobot has found its new leader who will try to rejuvenate the consumer robotics pioneer following Amazon’s failed $1.7 billion acquisition deal. Gary Cohen, who has 25-plus years of executive leadership and turnaround experience, was named CEO. He will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of iRobot, including innovation, product and commercial strategies, operational excellence, talent, and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage. Read More

8. How humanoid robots can help narrow gaps between automation and labor

The robotics industry has seen major growth and maturity in the past decade. Technology advances such as vision systems and computing power, along with the rise of artificial intelligence, have helped the industry grow in many ways. Robots also are getting cheaper and more affordable. Robots are taking a greater role and improving automation in many ways, but are humanoid robots the next step? Read More

7. Former Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt launches new venture

Kyle Vogt, the co-founder and former CEO of autonomous vehicle developer Cruise LLC, has launched a new startup: The Bot Company. Vogt posted to LinkedIn that the company has already raised $150 million from investors, but he didn’t give many details of its plans for service or household robots. Read More

6. SwRI releases CAD-based toolkit for robotics development

Ease of use continues to be an ongoing challenge for robotics developers and users. And the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is looking to do its part with a new toolkit that aims to simplify programming robots. Read More

5. Doosan Robotics releases its longest-reach cobots with PRIME SERIES

Doosan Robotics Inc. unveiled its latest and most powerful series of cobots yet: the PRIME-SERIES, or P-SERIES. Its new P3020 cobot, part of the line, is the company’s longest-reaching cobot to date. The P3020 collaborative robot (cobot) has a payload of up to 30 kg (60 lbs) and a reach of 2,030 mm (80 in). Read More

4. ABB expands line of modular industrial robots

ABB Robotics is already expanding its lineup of modular industrial robot arms. The company this week introduced the IRB 7710 and IRB 7720 that offer 16 new variants and are designed for a variety of applications. However, ABB said it expects the majority of installations of the new robots to be in automotive OEM and Tier supplier sectors, as well as a significant level of installation in logistics, foundry, machinery manufacturing, construction and agriculture applications. Read More

3. Meet the Robotics Company Who is Engineering Some of the Most Exciting Field Deployed Technology

In recent years, the market for field-deployed robotics has seen significant growth, mainly due to the advances in sensor technology, processing capabilities, and hardware efficiency. These technological advancements make it increasingly feasible and meaningful to develop robotic solutions for automating repetitive day-to-day tasks. Read More

2. Unitree Robotics unveils G1 humanoid for $16k

Unitree Robotics unveiled its latest generation G1 humanoid robot at ICRA 2024. The original Unitree H1 humanoid was first introduced in 2023 and made famous in a number of videos demonstrating its balancing and walking capabilities. Read More

1. To make household robots widely available, it’s about actuators, not AI

Everyone wants universal household robots. For widespread adoption, they are going to have to have a price point that allows monthly financing or lease payments that are roughly similar to a car, suggesting that manufacturers will need to retail units in the neighborhood of $40,000 to get widescale uptake. Read More

The post Top 10 robotics stories of May 2024 appeared first on The Robot Report.

For humanoid robots to be useful in household settings, they must learn numerous tasks. 1X Technologies today released a video (above) showing how it is applying artificial intelligence and teleoperation to training its robots and controlling sequences of skills via voice.

“This update showcases progress we’ve made toward longer autonomous behaviors,” said Erik Jang, vice president of AI at 1X Technologies. “We’ve previously shown that our robots were able to pick up and manipulate simple objects, but to have useful home robots, you have to chain tasks together smoothly.”

“In practice, the robot doesn’t always position itself right next to a table, so we need to be able to tell it to adjust its position and then manipulate the object,” he told The Robot Report. “In building out our repertoire of skills, we’re finding a lot of other skills — like getting closer or backing up — that humans can instruct the robots with natural language.”

1X builds single tasks toward a unified model

1X Technologies has been working toward a single neural network to handle a wide range of tasks, but it is starting with training individual models through teleoperation and voice. This marks a change in how the company is approaching training and scaling of capabilities, Jang said.

“Before, we thought of a single model for thousands of tasks, but it’s hard to train for so many skills simultaneously,” he noted. “It’s important to push forward on multiple fronts, so we’ve added a few hundred individual capabilities. Our library of skills is mapped to simple language descriptions.”

1X, which has offices in Sunnyvale, Calif., and Moss, Norway, still plans to work toward a single model for all tasks. It is using “shadow mode” evaluations to compare predictions to a baseline for testing. The company already has generic navigation and manipulation policies, said Jang.

“We can give the robot a goal — ‘Please go to this part of the room’ — and the same neural network can navigate to all parts of the room,” he said. “Tidying up a room involves four primitives: going anywhere in the room, adjusting for position, picking something up, and putting it down.”

1X plans to add skills such as opening doors, drawers, and bottles, and Jang acknowledged that it’s still early days for building them out.

“Autonomy is hard. If a robot has to go to a second task, it has to pick up the slack from the first one,” he said. “For example, if the first robot didn’t get to the right spot next to a table, then the second robot has to stick its arm out further to grab something, and the third task has to compensate even more. Errors tend to compound.”

Register now.

Voice interface enables training, higher-level actions

“We’ve built a way for humans to instruct the robots on tasks so that if they make a mistake, the human can dictate what the command should be,” he added. “We use a human in the loop issuing natural-language commands.”

In the video, 1X Technologies showed a person directing multiple robots to perform a sequence of actions with a simple voice command.

“We treat natural-language commands as a new type of action, translating from low-level instructions to higher-level actions,” said Jang. “We’re working toward robots that can work autonomously for long periods of time. Cleaning things often involves interacting with different tools and appliances. To be useful, household robots should not be limited to pick-and-place operations.”

Remote and multi-robot control lead to scalability

1X Technologies has taken the approach of having the same people who gather the data from teleoperation be the ones who train robots for their skills.

“I’m super proud of the work they do,” said Jang. “We’ve closed the loop, and the teleoperators train everything themselves. In this ‘farm-to-table’ approach, they’ve built all the capabilities.”

By showing that users without computer science experience can train robots, 1X said it is removing a bottleneck to scaling.

“In the same way we have operators train low-level skills, we can have them train higher-level ones,” Jang added. “It’s now very clear to us that we can transition away from predicting robot actions at low levels to building agents that can operate at longer horizons.”

“Once we have controls in the language space, it’s not a huge leap to see robots working with Gemini Pro Vision or GPT 4.0 for longer-horizon behaviors,” he said.

By enabling users to set high-level goals for multiple robots, 1X Technologies said it will also allow for more efficient fleet management.

EVE demonstrates updated AI and voice commands. Source: 1X Technologies

Humanoids are fast approaching, says 1X

Over the past year, 1X has pivoted from purely commercial deployments with EVE to more diverse settings with NEO. The company raised $100 million in January. When will humanoids using unified AI models be ready for the domestic market?

“I want it to come as fast as possible,” replied Jang. “A lot of people think that general-purpose home or humanoid robots are far away, but they’re probably a lot closer than one thinks.”

Jang asserted that by designing its own actuators, 1X has made NEO to be safe around humans, a prerequisite for household use. The hardware’s ability to compensate also allows the AI to have room for error, he said.

Still, humanoid robot developers have to do more than produce interesting videos, Jang said. They have to demonstrate capabilities in the real world and control costs on the path to commercialization.

“The onus is on us to get away from making videos to making something that people can see in person without hiding actual performance details,” he said. “Not everything with a torso four limbs is a humanoid, and we’ve put a lot of thought about the force, torque, and strength of each. Not all robots are created equal.”

“There’s a sweet spot between overspeccing costs and underspeccing costs, which can hamper the ability to pursue AI or automation in general,” said Jang. “Many of the top humanoid companies are making different choices, and there’s a spectrum between millimeter-level precision on fingers and calibration with cameras to, on the other end, 3D-printed robots. It’s a healthy competition.”

The post 1X shows advances in voice control, chaining tasks for humanoid robots appeared first on The Robot Report.

Organization: Figure AI
Country: U.S.
Website: https://www.figure.ai/
Year Founded: 2022
Number of Employees: 11-50
Innovation Class: Technology, Product & Services

Editor’s Note: The 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards were announced on April 9. The RBR50 has been around for the past 12 years, and the inaugural RBR50 Gala was held during the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. The Robot Report will be highlighting each RBR50 winner throughout the year.

Since exiting stealth mode in January 2023, Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Figure AI has swiftly navigated toward commercializing a humanoid under the leadership of founder and CEO Brett Adcock, a seasoned entrepreneur with two successful startups behind him.

Figure’s team includes industry veterans like CTO Jerry Pratt from the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC), who boasts more than 20 years of experience developing humanoids. The company has also hired employees from Apple, Auris, Boston Dynamics, Nimble Robotics, Rivian, Tesla, and other leading technology companies.

The blistering development path that Figure demonstrated throughout the year is a testament to building and equipping a top-notch team with the right tools to be successful.

The company achieved dynamic bipedal walking with its Figure 01 humanoid in less than one year, which the company claims to be one of the quickest turnarounds in humanoid history. Figure 01 features dexterous manipulation capabilities and, like other humanoids, is being designed for logistics applications such as tote moving as potential tasks early on.

During a visit in October 2023, The Robot Report observed Figure AI’s meticulous approach to product prototyping and sophisticated development infrastructure, highlighting the team’s prowess in iterative design and debugging. The integration of a fully dissected robot for software development and electrical system troubleshooting underscores the depth of expertise within Figure’s ranks, showcasing the company’s maturity despite its relative youth.

Starting in October, the company began to show progress through key milestones, including manipulation tasks, untethered walking, and real work demonstrations.

Register now.

Explore the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024.

RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024

The post RBR50 Spotlight: Figure AI builds working humanoid within 1 year appeared first on The Robot Report.

OpenAI robotics research is resuming, applying generative AI to tasks such as manipulation. | Credit: OpenAI

OpenAI LLC, which is best known for ChatGPT, is restarting its robotics research group. The San Francisco-based company has been a pioneer in generative artificial intelligence and is returning to robotics after a three-year break.

This comes as no surprise, since The Robot Report has reported on several robotics companies working with ChatGPT and large language models (LLMs) over the past year.

The reboot comes after the company shut down its robotics group in July 2021. That shutdown was prior to all of the interest in generative AI after OpenAI released ChatGPT to the world.

When the company shut down its original robotics research group, co-founder Wojciech Zaremba said: “I actually believe quite strongly in the approach that the robotics [team] took in that direction, but from the perspective of AGI [artificial general intelligence], I think that there was actually some components missing. So when we created the robotics [team], we thought that we could go very far with self-generated data and reinforcement learning.”

OpenAI is a 2024 RBR50 award honoree for the innovation of LLMs along with the application programming interfaces (APIs) that have enabled robotics developers to demonstrate interaction between physical robots and the generative AI. In March 2023, OpenAI released the APIs that have facilitated this interaction for the robotics industry.

Register now.

OpenAI is hiring a robotics engineer

As first reported in Fortune this week, OpenAI is again hiring again for its robotics team, with an open position for a research robotics engineer. It is looking for someone capable of “training multimodal robotics models to unlock new capabilities for our partners’ robots,  research and develop improvements to our core models, including exploring new model architectures, collecting robotics data, and evaluations.”

“We’re looking for people who have a strong research background, in addition to experience shipping AI applications,” said the company.

OpenAI has also participated as an investor in humanoid developer Figure AI’s Series B fundraising earlier this year. The Figure AI investment indicated that robotics is clearly on the radar for OpenAI.

The post OpenAI is restarting its robotics research group appeared first on The Robot Report.

Everyone wants universal household robots. For widespread adoption, they are going to have to have a price point that allows monthly financing or lease payments that are roughly similar to a car, suggesting that manufacturers will need to retail units in the neighborhood of $40,000 to get widescale uptake.

Most humanoid robots in development are initially intended for industrial settings such as warehouses, but a few are being marketed as being more affordable. They are still currently limited in capability and availability. The latest artificial intelligence is also just beginning to be applied to service robots.

If designed properly, household robots could be durable enough to carry a residual value, creating a secondary market for used equipment, to allow monthly payments that could be affordable for the majority of households.

To achieve this, the machine makers are going to have to stop thinking like NASA, and rethink things like titanium and carbon fiber. Commodity plastic resins, utility grade aluminum alloys, and, critically, affordable batteries will be the way forward for household robots.

About the author

James Anderton is director of content at Engineering.com. He has worked there for 10 years, and prior to that, he was an editor at Canadian Networking Magazine. Anderton went to Boston University and lives in the Toronto area.

This article was syndicated from The Robot Report’s sibling site Engineering.com. 

The post To make household robots widely available, it’s about actuators, not AI appeared first on The Robot Report.

Unitree Robotics unveiled its latest generation G1 humanoid robot at ICRA 2024. The original Unitree H1 humanoid was first introduced in 2023 and made famous in a number of videos demonstrating its balancing and walking capabilities.

The Unitree H1 was a popular demo during the CES 2024, where the Unitree booth was slammed throughout the show. In April, Unitree brought the H1 to NVIDIA GTC and walked the robot through the crowded aisles.

Unitree has become famous in the early days of the humanoid race as the first humanoid robot to take the robot off of its tether and walk it around in public, confident in the robot’s ability to balance and stand without falling on anyone.

Unitree has been active over the last year, producing a number of videos of the H1 humanoid, often in response to marketing videos from competitors like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Tesla, Figure and Apptronik. The videos from Unitree feature human wranglers pushing, kicking, and shoving the robot to show its agility and ability to balance. This is an homage to the early Boston Dynamics Atlas videos made famous for “robot bullying.”

Register now.

Unitree also showed an electric-powered humanoid doing a flip on flat ground. This was yet another homage to the famous Boston Dynamics hydraulic-powered Atlas robot doing similar athletic and parkour stunts. Notably, since it launched the H1, Unitree has attempted to set itself apart from the humanoid pack from a robot walking, running, and balancing perspective.

Enter the Unitree G1 humanoid

The first thing you notice about the new Unitree G1 humanoid is that it’s significantly smaller in size and stature than the H1 humanoid. The Unitree H1 is the size of an average adult (180 cm), while the Unitree G1 is the size of an average eight year old (127cm).

The smaller stature and design of the G1 requires less material and can use smaller motors than the H1, yet both units weigh about the same (47 kg). With a smaller robot, you’d expect to have a less expensive bill of materials. The G1 has a list price of $16,000 (base configuration) whereas the H1 has a base price of $90,000.

The Unitree G1 humanoid is shorter than its predecessor, the Unitree H1 humanoid. | Credit: Nathan Peterman

“Regarding the design and manufacturing of robots, every detail is critical in order to improve performance and reduce costs,” Unitree said when asked how it is reducing the cost of the G1 to such a low entry point. “For example, reduce the number of wires and cables, reduce the number of chips, reduce screws, etc. These may seem basic, but are actually very critical and important.

“Except for the chips, almost all the hardware of our robots is designed by ourselves. Through our past robot design and production experience, this has better performance and lower cost. Although it may seem contrary to common sense, for example, the motors and reducers are all models designed by us.”

As to whether the H1 would become obsolete with the launch of the G1, Unitree marketing director Duke Huang said, “Absolutely not. H1 is still our strongest humanoid robot and [we’ll] continue to maintain and support customers. There is a big difference between H1 and G1 in terms of size, price, and performance. G1 is more compact, more beautiful, relatively small, and easy to use and maintain. Of course, due to its smaller size, its power performance is still far behind H1.”

The Unitree G1 has a number of features and can be optioned from the entry-level unit to the fully featured version. | Credit: Unitree Robotics

According to Unitree, the G1 humanoid can be optioned with articulating, force-controlled, three-fingered hands, which can further be optioned with tactile feedback. The robot battery has an operating time of “about 2 hours” and is designed to be quickly swapped out. For sensors, the robot features 3D LiDAR and Intel RealSense D435 cameras.

The robot also features a fast walking speed of 2,000 mm/s (4.5 MPH). This is fast for any of the competing humanoids or AMRs currently on the market.

Target market for Unitree G1 humanoid

With its diminutive stature, this design decision effectively eliminates Unitree G1 from a practical human labor replacement, as it won’t be able to reach the same work envelope as a human worker. So the question remains, what market is the Unitree G1 designed for?

With its entry-level price, nimble kinematic design, large joint operating range, and optional features, the G1 might be an excellent research platform for university labs. The G1 could offer a quicker start for a lab that wants a platform for developing new embodied AI algorithms. Unitree is a NVIDIA partner, and the G1 EDU version can be optioned with an NVIDIA ORIN controller which delivers the computing power for sophisticated model development. The fact that Unitree also launched the product at ICRA, implies that R&D is the initial target application for the G1.

Due to its small size, G1 won’t be able to reach a typical workbench, kitchen, or household environment. However, foundation models developed on G1 could likely be applied to the H1 version.

The post Unitree Robotics unveils G1 humanoid for $16k appeared first on The Robot Report.

Digit at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

Agility Robotics today announced changes to its executive team as it productizes and commercializes its Digit humanoid robot. The company added experienced technology leader Daniel Diez as chief strategy officer.

Agility Robotics also said that Melonee Wise is moving from chief technology officer to the role of chief product officer (CPO). In addition, Pras Velagapudi is stepping into the role of CTO, effective immediately. 

“As the only company with a humanoid robot already delivering useful work to customers, Agility is shaping the future of labor,” stated Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics. “Today, we’re strengthening our exceptional leadership team to jump on this massive market opportunity.”

“Daniel brings an outstanding track record of leading business transformation and corporate strategy, and when it comes to deploying fleet-level robotics solutions in logistics and manufacturing operations, Melonee’s and Pras’s technical, product, and commercial experience are unbeatable,” she added. “I’m thrilled to have their expert leadership in these new and expanded roles as we prepare for commercial scale.”

Corvallis, Ore.-based Agility Robotics said its mission is “to build robot partners that augment the human workforce, ultimately enabling humans to be more human.” The company described Digit as a “bipedal mobile manipulation robot” (MMR) and as “the first multi-purpose, human-centric robot that is made for work.” The system has been in trials for logistics tasks at Amazon and GXO Logistics.

Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer of Agility Robotics, delivered a keynote address about the technical challenges of building humanoids at the Robotics Summit & Expo earlier this month. Digit won the inaugural RBR50 Robot of the Year Award.

Register now.

Wise moves from CTO to chief product officer

Agility Robotics said that, since joining it as CTO in May 2023, Wise has transformed how the company approaches product development as it prepares to bring its products to market at scale. In addition to leading Agility’s engineering and technology efforts, Wise created and led the team that conceived, built, and launched Agility Arc, a cloud platform for deploying and managing fleets of Digits with other automation.

Melonee Wise, chief product officer, Agility Robotics

In the expanded role of CPO, Wise will continue to lead Agility’s engineering team in addition to the newly formed product organization. 

Wise has years of experience in the robotics industry. Prior to joining Agility in 2023, she was the vice president of robotics automation at Zebra Technologies. Before that, Wise was CEO of Fetch Robotics until its acquisition by Zebra in 2021.

Previously, Wise was the second employee at Willow Garage, where she led a team of engineers developing next-generation robot hardware and software, including the Robot Operating System (ROS), the PR2, and TurtleBot. Wise serves as a robotics board member for the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).

Throughout her career, Wise has received many accolades and awards including the MIT Technology Review TR35, Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 2021 Supply Chain Woman of the Year, the 2022 Engelberger Award, and as one of “eight CEOs changing the way we work” by Business Insider.

Wise received a B.S. in mechanical engineering and physics engineering and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois.

Velagapudi becomes Agility CTO

“In the year since he joined Agility, Velagapudi has galvanized the company’s AI strategy and shown repeated breakthroughs in using AI to accelerate Digit’s commercial capabilities,” said the company. “As CTO, he will continue to focus on pragmatic product-relevant innovations, operationalizing the company’s research and development efforts, and exploring new technologies, with an emphasis on applying modern and emerging AI to enable commercial scale.”

Pras Velagapudi, CTO, Agility Robotics

Velagapudi has decades of experience in robotics planning and control, as well as in creating and deploying robots into home, industrial, and outdoor environments. Before joining Agility as vice president of innovation and chief architect in 2023, he was a vice president of engineering and chief architect of mobile robotics at Berkshire Grey, deploying fleets of hundreds of robots to logistics applications.

In addition, Velagapudi is co-founder of Platypus, a low-cost Android-based fleet infrastructure for small autonomous robotic boats to collect environmental data on bodies of water. Prior to that, he led electrical systems design and engineering at RedZone Robotics, a subterranean pipe-inspection robot provider.

Velagapudi received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University, where he also served as adjunct faculty and project scientist for many years. 

Daniel Diez to set go-to-market strategy

As chief strategy officer, Diez is responsible for setting Agility’s overall business and go-to-market strategy, working closely with Johnson, said the company. In this role, he will also lead all marketing and communications efforts to build the company’s reputation and grow awareness and demand for Digit as the company enters its next phase of commercial growth. 

Daniel Diez, chief strategy officer, Agility Robotics

Diez joins Agility from Magic Leap, where he led its transformation from a consumer technology startup to an enterprise technology company. He was responsible for the commercial launch of Magic Leap 2.

Most recently, Diez served as chief commercial officer at Magic Leap, overseeing business development, sales, customer experience, ecosystem solutions, developer relations, marketing, brand, communications, public affairs, and government relations. He previously held the roles of chief transformation officer and chief marketing officer at Magic Leap. 

Prior to joining Magic Leap, Diez served as chief marketing officer and head of product at Transform Brands, the owner of the Kenmore appliance brand. Before that, he was the global chief marketing officer for R/GA, a global marketing and innovation agency, and he helped lead the company’s transformation from a digital marketing agency to a global advertising and brand transformation powerhouse. 

Throughout his career, Diez has been an advocate for corporate citizenship and his passion for creating positive change extends beyond the world of business. He serves on the board of the LGBT Community Center in New York and has previously served as a pro bono marketing and communications consultant for non-profit organizations including the Ad Council and the Human Rights Campaign.

The post Agility Robotics announces executive moves to strengthen Digit commercialization appeared first on The Robot Report.

The robotics industry has seen major growth and maturity in the past decade. Technology advances such as vision systems and computing power, along with the rise of artificial intelligence, have helped the industry grow in many ways. Robots also are getting cheaper and more affordable. Robots are taking a greater role and improving automation in many ways, but are humanoid robots the next step?

Wise, chief product officer of Agility Robotics, outlined why humanoids or mobile manipulation robots (MMRs), are the next step in her presentation “The Next Frontier of Automation: Mobile Manipulation Robots (Humanoid Robots)” at Automate 2024 in Chicago.

Innovation in robotics, which started in 1961 with the Unimation arm and continues to today, “has created highly specialized automation that has driven us to automate these workspaces,” she said.

While that’s great, there’s still a catch: People are needed to connect these islands of automation. Everything grinds to a halt otherwise.

“We still need a lot of people,” said Wise. She cited the statistic that there are more than 2.1 million unfilled positions in manufacturing. It and other industries have spent more money on automation, but the people part of the equation remains a sore point.

“That’s part of the reason why we’ve seen a continuing need for new automation technology,” Wise said.

Melonee Wise, chief product officer of Agility Robotics, outlined the benefits of mobile manipulation robots. | Source: Chris Vavra, WTWH Media LLC

Four steps for humanoid and MMR deployment

Wise said mobile manipulators can address the gaps between “islands of automation” and tackle workflows that need more flexible automation. They can be deployed in brownfield sites, can serve multiple purposes and expand in utility over time, and are quickly scalable.

“They’re the perfect partner for other existing automation technology like automated storage and retrieval systems [ASRS] and other autonomous mobile robot [AMR] technology,” Wise said.

MMRs or humanoids are useful in several different workflows because they’re generalizable, she noted. Users can move one robot skill to many different applications by manipulating the system so it can do what the user needs it to. 

Such tasks include tote stacking, line feeding, AMR loading and unloading, and putwalls. They currently require humans to get objects from Point A to Point B, but an MMR can bridge that gap without disrupting production.

MMRs offer several advantages such as easy deployment in brownfield sites and are quickly scalable. | Credit: Chris Vavra, WTWH Media

Like any new implementation in a factory — or any facility undergoing this kind of change — a solid plan needs to be in place. Wise highlighted four steps any company should take before bringing MMRs into their facility:

1. Gather valuable data during a site visit.
2. Assess the specified operating environment.
3. Design a deployment and adjust along the way.
4. Deploy the MMR in a safe and efficient manner.

Wise expressed the importance of safety, saying, “One of the next things we’ll see with MMRs is the real practical application of safety.”

That’s important because unlike a traditional robot, a mobile robot’s standard operating environment (SOE) is the entire facility. For a mobile robot, this can raise concerns about uneven surfaces, keep-out zones, object avoidance, lighting, and clearance.

However, Wise said an MMR can avoid these issues because humanoids are bipedal and have the technology and sensors to operate safely the way a person would.

MMRs might not yet be able to talk like C-3PO from Star Wars, but they’re definitely capable of bridging some of these labor gaps while creating a more automated and autonomous world to meet consumer needs.

Editor’s note: This article was syndicated from The Robot Report sibling site Control Engineering.

Register now.

The post How humanoid robots can help narrow gaps between automation and labor appeared first on The Robot Report.

From left: Jim Shaw, president of Zion Solutions Group; Steve Crowe, editor at The Robot Report; and Jonathan Hurst, chief robotics officer at Agility Robotics, with RBR50 winner Digit. Source: Agility Robotics

To spread industrial settings, humanoid robots must prove their utility and integrate with enterprise systems. Agility Robotics Inc. today announced that it has partnered with Zion Solutions Group, which it claimed will be the first systems integrator to offer a humanoid robot to the supply chain industry.

Many companies have turned to automation to increase warehouse efficiency and productivity, noted Agility Robotics. However, staffers remain difficult to find for certain tasks because of high turnover, high injury rates, and an ever-growing labor gap, it said.

The company said it has designed its systems to address monotonous bulk materials-handling tasks that connect isolated manual and automated workflows. Agility Robotics described Digit as a “bipedal mobile manipulation robot” (MMR).

Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer at Agility Robotics, delivered a keynote address at last week’s Robotics Summit & Expo, and the company won the 2024 RBR50 Robot of the Year Award for commercial trials of Digit. 

Agility Robotics readies robot, fleet software

Corvallis, Ore.-based Agility Robotics has offices in Pittsburgh and Palo Alto, Calif. Its stated mission is “to build robot partners that augment the human workforce, ultimately enabling humans to be more human.”

Digit incorporates artificial intelligence models that allow it to adapt quickly and continually to new tasks and workflows, said the company. Agility recently partnered with warehouse management systems (WMS) provider Manhattan Associates.

It asserted that the MMR is designed to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards. Agility Robotics added that Digit can work safely in human spaces and perform a variety of difficult, repetitive, and sometimes dangerous tasks in logistics and manufacturing operations.

Agility Arc is a cloud automation platform for deploying and managing fleets of Digit robots. It can simplify the deployment lifecycle from facility mapping and workflow definition to operations management and troubleshooting, said Agility Robotics.

Zion Solutions Group supports supply chain innovation

Agility Robotics said its partnership will allow Zion Solutions Group to integrate its systems, including Digit and Agility Arc, into Zion’s warehouse systems and designs.

“Agility Robotics is a leader in robotic technology, paving the way for the next generation of supply chain innovation,” stated Jim Shaw, president of Zion Solutions Group. “We are thrilled to be the very first systems integrator to introduce humanoid robotics as a solution. We believe that in the not-so-distant future, this technology will revolutionize how humans and robots work alongside each other in warehouses.”

“Agility’s Digit, which became the first humanoid robot operational in a live warehouse environment in 2023, is already transforming collaborative workflows,” he added. “Agility’s practical and robust strategic approach resonates deeply with our mission to deliver memorable experiences and guide intelligent change. We’re excited to bring this groundbreaking technology to our customers.”

Zion Solutions Group said it has more than 90 years of expertise in supply chain integration. It specializes in materials handling, advisory services, and data analytics and provides services ranging from consulting to post-implementation support. Zion said its client-centric approach and project lifecycle management (PLM) process can provide custom systems to drive success and sustainable growth for its partners.

“The visionary team at Zion understands how innovative robotics solutions like Digit and Agility Arc will transform the future of supply chain operations,” said Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics.

“When it comes to designing and implementing safe, efficient workflows and productive facilities, Zion’s deep industry experience and progressive approach to automation make it an ideal match for Agility,” she said. “We are honored to partner with a company that shares our commitment to customer success.”

Digit at the inaugural RBR50 Gala. Credit: Eugene Demaitre

The post Zion Solutions Group to be first systems integrator for Agility Robotics’ Digit appeared first on The Robot Report.

CCTY Bearing will discuss how its technologies can help humanoid robots at the Robotics Summit & Expo. Source: CCTY

To help robot developers make humanoid robots that emulate the mobility and flexibility of human limbs, CCTY designs and manufactures bespoke parts tailored to the unique requirements of each project. At the Robotics Summit & Expo this week, the global motion-control supplier will highlight how its state-of-the-art bearings can enable robots to move articulating joints with lifelike grace.

These critical joints must replicate the natural range of motion found in the human body while remaining lightweight and durable, according to CCTY. The company today said its customized approach overcomes the limitations of conventional, off-the-shelf products.

“The development of humanoid robots has garnered significant attention,” stated Yaman Obaid, robotics engineer at CCTY. “Their seamless motion is enabled by a complex interplay of precision engineering, advanced materials, and cutting-edge technology, with bearings serving as the base that enables these movements.”

CCTY builds bearings to suit

CCTY specializes in custom bearing engineering and development. The company has a 1.8 million sq. ft. (167,000 sq. m) production facility in China and offices in Lake Zurich, Ill.; Schwebheim, Germany; Tokyo; and Gujarat, India.

For the robotics sector, CCTY designs motion-control components and assemblies specific to humanoid and industrial robot applications. They include rod ends, spherical plain bearings, COM bearings, bushings, and roller bearings that enable articulating joints to rotate freely and smoothly.

“At the forefront of innovation, CCTY collaborates closely with our customers to design, develop, and test application-specific humanoid robotic bearing solutions,” said Nik Jerinic, strategic account manager at CCTY. “We’re not like other bearing suppliers. We are problem-solvers who work side-by-side with our clients to create a custom design that meets an application’s precise requirements.”

In addition to custom bearings, CCTY said it develops full assemblies that yield customer benefits such as cost savings, streamlined products, and simplified vendor management. With its ability to manufacture small batches, the company said it is as a trusted engineering partner to businesses in the fast-paced robotics industry.

Learn more at the Robotics Summit & Expo

At Booth 234 in Hall C at the Robotics Summit & Expo on May 1 and 2, CCTY said it will demystify the process of bearing design and assembly for robotic applications. It said its expertise and customer partnerships have resulted in systems that will advance the future of humanoid robots.

During the event, CCTY experts will also discuss key robotics industry trends and themes, including the importance of:

• Seals in robotics applications
• Finding the right balance for minimizing torque and clearance
• Backlash and its impact on humanoid movement

“When speaking with new and potential customers, our engineers often find that they’re able to present or share a new idea or enhancement, for example a new design idea or material selection, that improves upon the customer’s existing idea,” said Jerinic. “This is the type of partner CCTY wants to be for our robotics customers: Someone who helps them raise the bar in this high potential and fast-growing industry.”

Registration is now open for the Robotics Summit & Expo, which will be at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The summit will also feature keynotes and sessions with industry experts, more than 200 exhibitors, a MassRobotics Engineering Career Fair, and several networking opportunities.

Register now.

The post CCTY to showcase bearing solutions at the Robotics Summit & Expo appeared first on The Robot Report.

The new Humanoid Robot Innovation Center is located in Zhejiang, China. | Credit: SUPCON

Over the past few years, the race to develop humanoid robots for commercial use has accelerated. SUPCON Technology Co. this month announced the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center and the debut of its first self-developed humanoid, Navigator α.

Founded in 1993, SUPCON provides control and safety systems, monitoring and optimization software, and measurement hardware and software. The Hangzhou, China-based company went public on the SIX Swiss Exchange in April 2023, raising $565 million, according to Crunchbase.

SUPCON’s product line includes offerings for energy management, supply chain management, industrial safety, and simulation. It also supports security and inspection tasks with wheeled and legged robots that can include an array of onboard sensors.

SUPCON’s current product line includes both a wheeled platform and a quadruped robot. | Credit: SUPCON

SUPCON unveils humanoid robot

The company launched a new humanoid robot, signaling its intentions to compete in the burgeoning humanoid space that is already becoming crowded with systems from many global and regional companies.

The Navigator α is 1.5 m (4.9 ft.) tall and weighs 50 kg (110 lb.). It has lightweight mechanical arms with a dexterous hand and multiple degrees of freedom. This hand features 15 finger joints, six active degrees of freedom, a fingertip force of 10N, a lightweight design of 600 g (1.3 lb.), and a joint speed of 150 degrees per second.

SUPCON said it plans to integrate large-scale AI models to achieve an intelligent human interface. The company claimed that Navigator α has been deployed in several field-proven projects.

The future of humanoid robots will depend on their utilization in specific scenarios and industries, said SUPCON. It said its near-term focus will be on bridging the gap between technological research and industrial demand to continue the progress.

The new Navigator α humanoid robot is the latest innovation from SUPCON. | Credit: SUPCON

New center to foster industry-academia interaction

SUPCON said its new innovation center aims to facilitate partnerships between academic institutions and industries in the area of humanoid robotics, as well as explore the potential uses of these robots in various industrial settings. The center’s primary focus is on intelligent sensing and control technologies, while it also works toward the development of fully operational robots.

The Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center will function as a hub for technical research, product development, the nurturing of talent, and industrial growth, said SUPCON. The company said its investment in the center follows its strategic objective of seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence with robotics and supporting the evolution of the humanoid robot sector in China.

Register now.

The post SUPCON opens new innovation center and launches Navigator α humanoid robot appeared first on The Robot Report.