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☆ Boston Dynamics just unveiled a fully electric, freakishly flexible humanoid robot
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Boston Dynamics showed off a fully electric version of its humanoid robot Atlas on Wednesday. The robotics company retired its hydraulic humanoid robot, Atlas, on Tuesday but then posted a video on Wednesday debuting its new, fully electric Atlas. "We designed the electric version of Atlas to be stronger, more dexterous, and more agile," the company said. Boston Dynamics says the fully electric Atlas "will be stronger, with a broader range of motion than any of our previous generations." AdvertisementAtlas may have even helped inspire Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus.

Persons: — Organizations: Boston Dynamics, . Boston Dynamics, Hyundai, Service, SpaceX

☆ Amazon-backed humanoid firm Agility Robotics laid off a 'small number' of staff
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Agility Robotics said it laid off a "small number" of employees on Wednesday. The company told Business Insider that the job cuts affected a "small number" of employees. Amazon is testing its Agility's Digit robots in a research and development facility near Seattle. AdvertisementAn electrical engineer at the humanoid robotics firm shared in posts on LinkedIn and X that he was "one of the many laid off" at the company. AdvertisementJohnson previously told BI that it will churn out "hundreds" of its Digit robots in 2025 and then "ramp up capacity to thousands" in the years that follow.

Persons: —, Lisa Haugh, Crunchbase, it's, Peggy Johnson, Johnson, It's Organizations: Robotics, Service, Business, Industrial Innovation, LinkedIn, Bureau of Labor Statistics Locations: Oregon, Seattle

☆ A global scramble to make humanoid robots is gearing up to be the 21st century's space race
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Joshua Zitser | Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Humanoid robots are symbols of power and technological capability, a geopolitics expert says. An incident earlier this month involving a Saudi humanoid robot inappropriately touching a female reporter might not at first seem even remotely connected. AdvertisementHumanoids are visual representations of breakthroughs in AIIn Italy, the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia is working on iCub, a research-grade humanoid robot. AdvertisementChina wants to take the leadWhen it comes to humanoid robots, China is vying for the top spot, so it's no wonder other nations are getting nervous. "The vast magnitude of the market offers an unmatched chance to test, improve, and expand the uses of humanoid robots," he said.

Persons: —, Neil Armstrong's, Muhammad, Elie Metri, Giorgio Metta, Metta, there's, Zen Koh, Koh, Peggy Johnson, Johnson, it's, David Becker, OpenAI, Mercedes, Tesla, Julian Mueller, Kaler, Mueller, Tang Ke, Li Boyang, Will Jackson, Johannes Simon, you've, Jackson, we're, Gartner, Nvidia's, Melonee Wise, Justin Sullivan, Metri Organizations: Service, Robotics, QSS Robotics, Muhammad, Istituto, Tecnologia, European Union, Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, Fourier Intelligence, Getty, BMW, Strategic Foresight, Stimson, TIME, Beijing, Conference, Boston Dynamics, Arts, Engineered Arts, GTC, Getty Images Saudi Locations: China, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Soviet Union, Saudi, DeepFest, Riyadh, Robotics Saudi Arabia, India, Nigeria, Shanghai, Oregon, Las Vegas, Texas, Beijing, China's Liaoning Province, San Jose , California, Getty Images Saudi Arabia, QSS, Europe

☆ Jensen Huang brought a squad of 9 humanoid robots onstage to celebrate Nvidia's big bet on the machines
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Nvidia is creating a foundation model for humanoid robots called Project GR00T. AdvertisementJensen Huang is betting his chips on humanoid robots. At the conference on Monday, Nvidia said the project involved building a general-purpose foundation model for humanoid robots, which would help teach them to perform everyday tasks. Huang brought together robots from Figure AI, Apptronik, Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, Fourier Intelligence, Sanctuary AI, and more to announce its market entry. He said building the models for robots is "one of the most exciting problems to solve in AI today."

Persons: Jensen Huang, —, Huang Organizations: Nvidia, Service, Robotics, Boston Dynamics, Fourier Intelligence

☆ The Saudi humanoid robot incident shows the machines aren't taking over the world anytime soon
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Arabia's first male humanoid robot inappropriately touched a female reporter last week. But robots aren't self-aware, so it probably wasn't intentional. Saudi Arabia's first "male" humanoid robot caused a stir after it inappropriately touched a female reporter at an AI conference last week. It's worth pointing out that robots aren't capable of feeling anger or having sexual desires, so it's highly unlikely that Muhammad made a deliberate advance at the reporter. AdvertisementLimited functionalityAI-powered robots remain far from achieving human-like capabilities, as Jeff Cardenas, CEO of humanoid robot maker Apptronik, previously told BI.

Persons: —, Muhammed, QSS, Sergey Lazarev, Muhammad, Gill Spencer, Jeff Cardenas, they're, Cardenas, Damion Shelton Organizations: Saudi, Service, Metro, Moscow Chess Federation, Arts, Agility Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Russian

☆ Humanoid robot startup Figure AI valued at $2.6 billion as Bezos, OpenAI, Nvidia join funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Founded in 2022, Figure AI has developed a general-purpose robot, called Figure 01, that looks and moves like a human. Figure's ultimate aim is for Figure 01 to be able to perform "everyday tasks autonomously." Tesla is also trying to build a humanoid robot, called Optimus, while robotics company Boston Dynamics has developed several models. Norwegian humanoid robot startup 1X Technologies recently raised $100 million with backing from OpenAI. WATCH: Tesla CEO Musk said it's more important to develop humanoid robot than new cars

Persons: Jeff Bezos, Tesla, Goldman Sachs, Tom Andersson, Andersson, OpenAI, Goldman, they've, Musk Organizations: Nvidia, Microsoft, Innovation Fund, Robotics, Boston Dynamics, OpenAI, Goldman, STIQ Ltd, Intel, Ventures, Parkway Venture Capital Locations: Norwegian

☆ Elon Musk's optimism about Optimus might be misplaced
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk has been bigging up Tesla as a robotics powerhouse, highlighting its humanoid bot, Optimus, as a gleaming example of its sophisticated technology. It's possible, however, that Musk is being a tad over-optimistic in his humanoid robot ambitions, particularly regarding its delivery timeline. In true Musk fashion, he made some grand claims about Optimus in the investors' call. It's the most sophisticated humanoid robot that's been developed anywhere in the world." He said, "It should be impossible for any centralized control to upload malware to a humanoid robot."

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, there's, Optimus, Walter Isaacson, Musk, Tesla's, Brett Adcock Organizations: Service, Business, SpaceX, Optimus, German, BMW, Robotics, Amazon, Tesla Locations: Mars

☆ Tesla is hiring a bunch of designers so it can start selling humanoid robots by 2027
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's desire to launch Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, by 2027 may be closer to reality. Tesla's website shows more than 50 adverts for roles with Tesla Bot in the title. AdvertisementAdvertisementElon Musk has high aspirations for Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus. Some of the roles listed, which are to be based in Palo Alto, California, include "Humanoid Controls Engineer, Tesla Bot," "Systems Design & Integration Engineer, Tesla Bot," and various other Tesla Bot engineers. But with some US-based competitors already testing humanoid robots in warehouses, Tesla may have some catching up to do.

Persons: Elon, Tesla, —, Elon Musk, Musk, Optimus, Apptronik, Jeff Cardenas Organizations: Service, Optimus, NASA, Robotics Locations: Palo Alto , California, . Texas, Oregon, Seattle

☆ China boldly claims it has a plan to mass produce humanoid robots that can 'reshape the world' within two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China revealed its bold plans to mass produce "advanced-level" humanoid robots by 2025. The MIIT believes that humanoid robots will be as "disruptive" as smartphones and electric vehicles. AdvertisementAdvertisementChina revealed ambitious plans to mass produce humanoid robots, which it believes will be as "disruptive" as smartphones. For example, Chinese startup Fourier Intelligence said it would start mass producing its GR-1 humanoid robot by the end of this year, South China Morning Post reported. Even Tesla is developing its own humanoid robots called Optimus, or Tesla Bot, as Elon Musk revealed in 2021.

Persons: —, that's, Damion Shelton, Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: China's Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, Service, Bloomberg, Intelligence, China Morning Post Locations: China, Shanghai, Oregon, Seattle

“We’re trying to make robots that can operate in human spaces.”Do we even need humanoids? Seemingly farther along is Tesla's Austin, Texas-based neighbor Apptronik, which unveiled its Apollo humanoid in an August video demonstration. “That led to development of a new robot that was not really a humanoid, but had several characteristics of a humanoid,” he said via an emailed message. Walking is "not the hardest problem to solve in humanoid robotics," said Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO of British Columbia, Canada-based startup Sanctuary AI. “Forever more, human- centric robots like that are going to be part of human life.

Persons: hasn’t, Jonathan Hurst, “ We’re, Hurst, There’s, Brett Adcock, Elon Musk, —, “, Marc Raibert, Raibert, ”, Geordie Rose, Rose, ” Rose, Tye Brady, Damion Shelton, ” Shelton, Haleluya Hadero Organizations: Agility Robotics, tote, Amazon, Agility, Boston Dynamics, carmaker Hyundai, Robotics Locations: Oregon, Sunnyvale , California, Austin , Texas, British Columbia, Canada, Seattle

CNN —In the not-so-distant future, human-like robots will be as ubiquitous as the automobile or smartphone – if Agility Robotics’ vision of the future comes to life. “This is really an inflection point in history,” said Jonathan Hurst, co-founder of Agility Robotics, a Silicon Valley firm that showed off its humanoid, “Digit” to investors and press Tuesday. Agility Robotics' robot Digit showcased its ability to operate autonomously in front of a small audience Tuesday night. Due to safety regulations implemented by Agility Robotics, humans must also stay six feet away from Digit. Less than two weeks ago, Amazon announced it will begin testing Digit in a Seattle warehouse (Amazon is an investor in Digit’s parent company Agility Robotics.)

Persons: ”, Jonathan Hurst, Hurst, “, Veronica Miracle, couldn’t, That’s, ” Hurst, Melonee Wise Organizations: CNN, Agility Robotics, Robotics, Amazon, tote, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Technology Locations: Silicon, Seattle, Oregon

☆ Amazon's latest warehouse robot is cute, but it's definitely not going to quell workers' fears of being replaced
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon says Digit is designed to "work collaboratively" with employees, not replace them. AdvertisementAdvertisementAmazon recently began testing a new robot in its warehouse operations — meet Digit, a humanoid bipedal robot with a turquoise torso and smiley eyes. However, most of the other warehouse robots have been cart-shaped or robotic arms, not humanoid like Digit. Unlike the company's other warehouse robots, Amazon says Digit is better designed to operate in spaces designed for humans. In community forums, warehouse workers discussed the possibility that Sparrow might result in empty warehouses, with only small teams of human employees to repair the robots.

Persons: —, they'll, — Bert, Ernie, Scooter, Kermit Organizations: Robotics, Service, Agility Robotics, Amazon, Innovation, tote, Workers

☆ Amazon rolls out robotic system at Houston warehouse to speed up deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 18 (Reuters) - Amazon.com (AMZN.O) said on Wednesday it was using a robotic system at one of its Houston warehouses to improve inventory management and speed up deliveries, building on its years-long bet that automation will help boost sales and worker safety. The technology, called "Sequoia", brings together a series of systems including mobile robots and robotic arms. Amazon said Sequoia can help identify and store inventory 75% faster, while reducing the time to process orders at a warehouse by as much as 25%. The company said it would begin testing a bipedal robot called "Digit" from Agility Robotics, a startup backed by Amazon.

Persons: Pascal, Zaheer Kachwala, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, Walmart, Agility Robotics, Amazon, Ford, Thomson Locations: Lauwin, France, Houston, Bengaluru

☆ An advanced humanoid robot says it can simulate dreams to help it learn about the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A humanoid robot known as Ameca says it can simulate dreams to help it become knowledgeable. AdvertisementAdvertisementA humanoid robot said it can "simulate" dreams by conjuring up various scenarios, which helps it learn about the world. AdvertisementAdvertisementFirst revealed publicly in December 2021, the humanoid robot Ameca can also draw, do impressions from movies, and speak multiple languages. Agility Robotics is set to open what it describes as the first humanoid robot factory in Oregon later this year. Last year, NASA signed a partnership with humanoid robot creator Apptronik.

Persons: OpenAI's GPT, Will Jackson, —, Ameca, crouch, Dictador, Mika, Jeff Cardenas Organizations: Service, YouTube, Arts, NASA Locations: Oregon, Rum

☆ Agility Robotics is opening a humanoid robot factory, beating Tesla to the punch
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Agility Robotics is wrapping up construction of a factory in Salem, Oregon, where it plans to mass-produce its first line of humanoid robots, called Digit. The 70,000 square-foot facility, which the company is calling the "RoboFab," is the first of its kind, according to Damion Shelton, CEO and co-founder of Agility Robotics. For now, though, Agility Robotics is focused on the installation and testing of its first production lines. Matt Ocko, managing partner at DCVC and an investor in Agility, told CNBC that Digit should "fill millions of unmet roles that human beings don't want." At the same time, he emphasized, Agility Robotics has designed its humanoid robots to work safely and autonomously as a "robotic co-worker."

Persons: Damion Shelton, Aindrea Campbell, Campbell, that's, Optimus, Shelton, crouch, Agility's, Matt Ocko Organizations: Agility Robotics, Ford, CNBC, Robotics, DCVC, Playground Global Locations: Salem , Oregon

A humanoid warehouse worker, Digit walked upright on goatlike legs and grabbed bins off a shelf with muscular arms made from aerospace-grade aluminum. It then placed the boxes on an assembly line and walked back to the shelf to search for more. Machines like Digit are ready to take over a vast swath of physical labor, from operating forklifts to doing the laundry. Mr. Kyslinger, an engineer who has spearheaded automation for some of the largest retailers in the world, including Amazon and Walmart, is passionate about the potential of robots to improve the quality of life for workers. Robots free humans from boredom, repetition, physical strain and productivity limits that can put their jobs at risk, he believes.

Persons: ChatGPT, Ron Kyslinger, Kyslinger Organizations: Amazon, Walmart Locations: ProMat, Oregon

☆ Elon Musk faces skeptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil ‘Optimus’ robot
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Humanoid robots have been in development for decades by Honda Motor Co and Hyundai Motor‘s Boston Dynamics unit. And it’s the same way with humanoid robots to some extent,” the lead of NASA’s Dexterous Robotics Team, Shaun Azimi, told Reuters. Musk acknowledged that humanoid robots do not have enough intelligence to navigate the real world without being explicitly instructed. But he said Tesla can leverage its expertise in AI and key components to develop and produce smart, yet less expensive, humanoid robots at scale. Jonathan Hurst, chief technology officer at Agility Robotics, a humanoid robot firm founded in 2015 said the technology “is right now starting to turn the corner.”“Certainly, an important measure of success is do they make money from it,” he told Reuters, referring to Tesla’s humanoid robot efforts.

☆ Elon Musk faces skeptics as Tesla gets ready to unveil 'Optimus' robot
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A humanoid robot developed by Tesla, known as Tesla Bot or Optimus, is shown in a frame grab from the live video of Tesla's AI Day streamed on August 20, 2022. Humanoid robots have been in development for decades by Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS)'s Boston Dynamics unit. And it's the same way with humanoid robots to some extent," the lead of NASA's Dexterous Robotics Team, Shaun Azimi, told Reuters. Musk acknowledged that humanoid robots do not have enough intelligence to navigate the real world without being explicitly instructed. "Certainly, an important measure of success is do they make money from it," he told Reuters, referring to Tesla's humanoid robot efforts.

☆ Factbox: The challenges automakers, and now Tesla, face with humanoid robots
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Hyunjoo Jin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A "Tesla Bot" humanoid robot prototype is seen in this undated handout image. GM-NASAFrom 2007 to 2012, General Motors (GM.N) and NASA joined hands to develop humanoid robots, R2, for assembly and space exploration. NASA said its current focus is the development of next-generation humanoid robots that can be used on the lunar surface and eventually on Mars. HYUNDAI MOTOR-BOSTON DYNAMICSBoston Dynamics created internet buzz with videos of its humanoid robots running, jumping, backflipping and dancing. FORD-AGILITY ROBOTICSIn 2020, Ford (F.N) bought two humanoid robots, Digit, from Agility Robotics, to test the delivery of a package to doorstop from a delivery vehicle.

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