Tag: Robot

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Trump is Guarded by Spot

Spot from Boston Dynamics is the latest tool in the arsenal of the US Secret Service. This was reported by the BBC on November 17, 2024. The robot was recently spotted patrolling the perimeter of President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. As the video on the website shows, they do not carry weapons; “and each can be controlled remotely or automatically – as long as its route is pre-programmed”. Passers-by are warned by a sign on each of Spot’s legs that reads, “DO NOT PET”. “I don’t know that anyone would be tempted to pet these robot dogs. They do not look cuddly,” Melissa Michelson, a political scientist at Menlo College, told the BBC. Oliver Bendel, an expert in social robotics at the FHNW School of Business, disagrees. He has been working with Unitree Go2, which is half the weight and smaller than SPOT but otherwise comparable, since 2023. “The students are initially amazed or shocked when they see it. After a minute or two, their doubts are dispelled and they try to lure it in and stroke it.” A robot like Spot is well suited to an estate like Mar-a-Lago. However, models such as K5 from Knightscope or RBwatcher from Robotnik/URG can also be used on the lawns.

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A Cobot as Conductor of a Symphony

Cobots that dance with humans have been around for a long time. In 2016, the audience at Südpol Luzern witnessed dance and robot history being written by Huang Yi, a choreographer from Taiwan. Cobots that set the pace for humans, on the other hand, are not yet the order of the day. The Dresden Symphony Orchestra is about to perform the “Roboter.Sinfonie”. After a while, conductor Michael Helmrath will hand over to MAiRA Pro S, a product from NEURA Robotics. According to Deutschlandfunk, the machine’s three arms will be able to guide the orchestra, which is divided into groups, through the most complex passages independently of each other. This will break completely new musical ground. According to the Dresden Symphony Orchestra’s calendar, the concerts will take place on October 12 and 13, 2024 at the Europäisches Zentrum der Künste Hellerau (Image: NEURA Robotics).

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Living Skin on an Artificial Face

Scientists from The University of Tokyo have succeeded in applying living skin to a robot face. In their article “Perforation-type anchors inspired by skin ligament for robotic face covered with living skin” they write: “Skin equivalent, a living skin model composed of cells and extracellular matrix, possesses the potential to be an ideal covering material for robots due to its biological functionalities. To employ skin equivalents as covering materials for robots, a secure method for attaching them to the underlying structure is required. In this study, we develop and characterize perforation-type anchors inspired by the structure of skin ligaments as a technique to effectively adhere skin equivalents to robotic surfaces. To showcase the versatility of perforation-type anchors in three-dimensional (3D) coverage applications, we cover a 3D facial mold with intricate surface structure with skin equivalent using perforation-type anchors. Furthermore, we construct a robotic face covered with dermis equivalent, capable of expressing smiles, with actuation through perforation-type anchors. With the above results, this research introduces an approach to adhere and actuate skin equivalents with perforation-type anchors, potentially contributing to advancements in biohybrid robotics.” (Abstract) The result is an inverted or reversed cyborg. Oliver Bendel uses this term for technical structures that are supplemented with biological structures. It is also – another term used by Oliver Bendel – robot enhancement. There is no doubt that there will be more and more developments like this. Humans will become cyborgs, and robots will become reversed cyborgs (Image: Ideogram).

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HeidiBOT as Host of the ESC 2025

The ESC 2025 in Switzerland could be hosted by HeidiBOT, a humanoid robot connected to GPT-4o. The head could be commissioned from Hanson Robotics, RealDoll, or other companies. It would be worth considering whether a Figure 01 or similar model could serve as the basis. This would allow HeidiBOT to move naturally on stage and be part of a performance itself. Using GPT-4o or comparable language models, she would be able to speak a Swiss-German dialect, High German, English, and French. Rhaeto-Romanic should also be audible, as was the case with @llegra, a chatbot for Vallader. Switzerland could thus present itself as a country with a high level of scientific expertise, innovation, and a sense of tradition. Critics will miss the human touch and commitment. But this could be taken over more by the musicians, who are often just caricatures of themselves. They could have their say on stage and talk and discuss with the audience. A human co-host could also absorb this criticism. Another possibility would be to realize HeidiBOT as an avatar or pseudo- or quasi-hologram, similar to the ABBAtare in London. HeidiBOT could – in whatever form – look like Heidi from the booklet “AMERICAN SMILE” by Oliver Bendel. At her side would be a goat, of course. And Peterli, if he’s well-behaved (Image: Ideogram).

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A Change in Design

The last few years have seen the creation of a large number of quadruped and bipedal robots. Many have been inspired by Spot and Atlas from Boston Dynamics. These, in turn, can be traced back to Sparko and Elektro, which became famous around 1940. Atlas paved the way for the so-called general-purpose or universal robots that are now conquering the market, from H1 to Figure 01. They are not yet truly universal, but they are getting there. Most robotic quadrupeds don’t have a real head. A few talented hobbyists have produced their own with a 3D printer. This can be referred to as robot enhancement. Most robotic bipeds have a head that looks creepy or repulsive. This will be a key design problem in the coming years. It may be that people will quickly get used to ugly heads. But it would probably help with adoption and acceptance if the heads were nice to look at and had convincing facial expressions. After the huge technological advances that have been made in recent years, with new approaches to motor skills and the integration of speech models, what is needed most is a change in design.

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The Six-legged Robot

Laptop manufacturer Lenovo launched the Lenovo Daystar robot in 2020. The design of the machine, with four wheels and a cobot on the back, was less than convincing. The latest development is different. The website ifdesign.com reports on the award winner: “Step into the forefront of industrial automation and public services with Lenovo Daystar Bot GS. The groundbreaking six-legged design guarantees unmatched stability and maneuverability that surpasses traditional robotic platforms, allowing it to traverse diverse terrains with ease.” (iF DESIGN, 2024) The six legs are indeed unusual and a real eye-catcher. There is disagreement about the advantages. Perhaps the six legs provide more stability on stairs and very uneven terrain. The article continues: “Boasting an advanced control system, cutting-edge perception algorithms, and IP66 robust protection, GS outperforms in unforeseen scenarios, enabling comprehensive data collection at any location and time. In our unwavering pursuit of excellence, GS stands as a testament to innovation, efficiency, safety, and the boundless potential of automated exploration.” (iF DESIGN, 2024) Interestingly, Lenovo itself has nothing to say about the product. However, the media are now reporting intensively. The next few months will bring more clarity about the Lenovo Daystar Bot GS (Image: Lenovo/iF DESIGN).

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The Robot-elevator Project

An elevator is still a bit of a problem for a service robot. A first approach is to use social features such as facial expressions and sounds. The user trusts the machine or feels sorry for it and helps it into the lift. A second option is for the robot to press the right buttons with its gripper. However, this can be very difficult and can also cause problems, for example when people are present. A third option is for the robot and the elevator to communicate via appropriate interfaces. This is certainly the most elegant solution, but it requires some technical standardisation and upgrading. As reported by the Korea Economic Daily, KT, LG Elec, and Hyundai Elevator have joined forces in the “robot-elevator project”. The vision is described in the teaser as follows: “A robot freely gets on and off an elevator and moves around a building, doing everything from coffee to parcel delivery and route guidance.” (KED, 28 July 2023) About the plans of the three companies, the magazine says: “The three will jointly plan and search for elevator-robot linkage services, con-duct cooperation to secure competitiveness in robotics services and look for new business lines. KT and LG Electronics said a far more competitive system of robotics services is possible by linking an elevator to a robot since robots must freely move between floors to increase their utility.” (KED, 28 July 2023) More information is available at www.kedglobal.com/robotics/newsView/ked202307280005.

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The Rise of the Humanoid Robots

If a report in Wired is to be believed, humanoid robotics has entered a decisive phase. The editor describes the case of Figure AI. This company from Sunnyvale, CA is building a humanoid robot for warehouse work and recently announced $70 million in investment funding. Chief Technology Officer Jerry Pratt is one of the key figures. “Pratt says his company’s robot is taking its first steps around a mocked-up warehouse in Sunnyvale, California. Brett Adcock, Figure’s CEO, reckons it should be possible to build humanoids at the same cost of making a car, providing there is enough demand to ramp up production.” (Wired, 25 May 2023) According to Wired, Figure AI is not the only company betting that humanoid robots are maturing. “Others include 1X, Apptronik, and Tesla.” (Wired, 25 May 2023) Tesla’s Optimus recently made an appearance on stage that was much more convincing than the first. By the way, it looks similar to the Figure AI model. Improvements in the robots can be seen in motor skills, but also in perception and control. Language models like PaLM-E could play an important role here in the future.

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A New Version of Optimus

Tesla has so far caused more amazement than admiration among roboticists. Now the company has unveiled a revised version of its Optimus humanoid robot. It is said to have more capabilities than its predecessor. A video released by Tesla shows five of the robots in action. As an editor of the German magazine Golem points out, the robots walk much more safely than before and are also capable of sensitive interactions. The progress is attributed to improvements in the actuators and to human assistance. The design is still likely to put off many users. In particular, the head without a face will take some getting used to. But perhaps the eyes and mouth, including facial expressions, will be digitally implemented later. You can watch the video here.

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Robots in Hawai’i – Part 8

Hawaiian Host is the largest manufacturer of chocolate-covered macadamias in the world, with millions of boxes of the treats distributed around the globe. According to its website, the company “combines premium ingredients – handcrafted milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Hawaiian honey, Kona coffee, to name a few – with dry-roasted macadamias to create its signature delights” (Website Hawaiian Host). Hawaiian Host has now taken a big step forward in packaging. Watch a video of Chris Rabago getting his first look at Cama’s new equipment. The robot, which is protected by glass walls in the video, allows the chocolate-covered macadamias to be packaged at high speed in a small space. This is important because rental and construction costs in Honolulu are very high and factory expansions are difficult and expensive. It’s actually several robots working together – it’s very effective and looks fascinating. How many workers this new level of automation will replace is unknown.