Robotics Archives - Page 6 of 11

April 8, 2022April 8, 2022

Transport Robots on the Streets of LA

Hundreds of transport robots are on the streets of Los Angeles for Coco, an American food delivery company. According to them, they cover all major neighborhoods in the city and save considerable time and money. As Engadget reports, Coco has now expanded beyond its home base. It says the service is already available in Austin, and will also be available in Dallas, Houston, and Miami in the future. The vehicles are controlled remotely by employees, from their own homes. Other providers, however, are focusing on autonomous mobility. Oliver Bendel was able to see for himself on site in Santa Monica at the beginning of April 2022 that the transport robots manufactured by Segway drive along the sidewalks and cross the streets in compliance with the rules. Still, he considers them – like the Starship Technologies devices that Swiss Post has experimented with – to be tripping hazards. In metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, moreover, vandalism is likely to be a problem. Still, delivery seems to work on the whole (Photo: Coco).

March 18, 2022March 18, 2022

MIT Lincoln Laboratory Presents AI-GUIDE

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory reports a new invention on its website, namely the AI-guided ultrasound intervention device. The teaser introduces the topic as follows: “Hemorrhage causes 90% of preventable battlefield deaths. AI-GUIDE is designed to address this issue by enabling medics to catheterize a major blood vessel, through which life-saving aid can be delivered, in a pre-hospital setting.” (Website MIT) The use of the device is described as follows: “Using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, this handheld catheterization tool guides users to perform the key step of inserting a needle and guidewire in the targeted vessel, after which they can readily complete catheterization.” (Website MIT) More information via www.ll.mit.edu/r-d/projects/artificial-intelligence-guided-ultrasound-intervention-device.

January 24, 2022January 24, 2022

Robots by the Hour

“Robots by the Hour” – this is the motto of Formic. The company, which is based in Chicago, buys standard robot arms that perform a simple, repetitive job (such as lifting a piece of metal into a press, which then bends the metal into a new shape) and leases them along with its own software. Wired magazine writes: “They’re among a small but growing number of robots finding their way into workplaces on a pay-as-you-go basis.” (Wired, 18 January 2022) Polar is one of the companies trying out the leasing offer. Jose Figueroa, who manages Polar’s production line, says the robot “costs the equivalent of $8 per hour, compared with a minimum wage of $15 per hour for a human employee. Deploying the robot allowed a human worker to do different work, increasing output …” (Wired, 18 January 2022) Formic writes on its website: “We didn’t invent automated systems, but we democratized them. Because technology doesn’t change the world until you make it accessible to those who need it most. Automation is a necessity, not a luxury. And our mission is to continue the American legacy of innovation by making it your reality.” The future will show whether there is a market for leasing robots.

January 4, 2022January 4, 2022

Will We Love Robots?

“It is estimated that there are now more than 1.7 million robots with social attributes worldwide. They care for, educate, help, and entertain us. There have also long been highly engineered sex robots. But can these machines actually develop feelings – or even feel love?” (Website ARTE, own translation) ARTE asks this question in the series “42 – Die Antwort auf fast alles” (“42 – The Answer to Almost Everything”). The program “Werden wir Roboter lieben?” (“Will we love robots?”) will be broadcast on February 19, 2022. The online version is already available from January 20. Dr. Hooman Samani, a robotics expert at the University of Plymouth, Prof. Dr. Martin Fischer, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Potsdam, and Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, an information and machine ethicist at the Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW, will have their say. Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel has been researching conversational agents and social robots for more than 20 years and has published the Springer book “Soziale Roboter” (“Social Robots”) at the end of 2021. More information on the program via www.arte.tv/de/videos/101938-004-A/42-die-antwort-auf-fast-alles/.

October 23, 2021October 23, 2021

Unimals are Among Us

Agrim Gupta, Fei-Fei Li and other scientists from Stanford University use so-called unimals “to explore two questions that often get overlooked in AI research: how intelligence is tied to the way bodies are laid out, and how abilities can be developed through evolution as well as learned” (MIT Technology Review, 19 October 2021). MIT Technology Review quotes Josh Bongard from University of Vermont as saying: “This work is an important step in a decades-long attempt to better understand the body-brain relationship in robots” (MIT Technology Review, 19 October 2021). The research seems like a continuation of the embodiment movement, which the Swiss Rolf Pfeifer played a major role in shaping. And indeed, Bongard says: “Embodiment is our only hope of making machines that are both smart and safe.” (MIT Technology Review, 19 October 2021) The unimals look a bit like figures from the cycle “Bizzarie di varie figure” by Giovanni Battista Braccelli. The drawings from the year 1624 show embodiments of cubes, wires, and machine parts. However, they are static, while the unimals move and constantly change their bodies – the title of the article in the magazine reads accordingly: “These weird virtual creatures evolve their bodies to solve problems” …

August 20, 2021August 20, 2021

The Idea of a Tesla Bot

Elon Musk presented the idea of a humanoid robot that – according to Manager Magazin – could take on dangerous, repetitive or boring tasks in the future. The Tesla Bot will be about five feet eight inches (just under 1.73 meters) tall, weigh 57 kilograms, and be able to do numerous jobs, from putting screws on cars to picking up groceries at the store – this is what the German magazine reports. It will be equipped with eight cameras and a full self-driving computer, and will use the same tools Tesla uses in its cars (Manager Magazin, 20 August 2021). According to the announcement, the robot will be able to take over physical work. But that’s exactly what service robots are struggling with at the moment, especially humanoid models. The visualization hardly allows any conclusions to be drawn about the capabilities of the prototype, which is to be available as early as 2022. Eyes and mouths could appear on a large display in the head area and mimic abilities could be implemented. When it is turned off – as seen in the video – the robot appears creepy and unapproachable. Arms and feet are unlikely to be suitable for carrying the body in this form. Joints can also only be seen in rudimentary form. Overall, it is unclear why Tesla, of all companies, should close the gaps that are still present at Sony, SoftBank and Boston Dynamics even after many years.

August 11, 2021August 11, 2021

From AIBO to CyberDog

Xiaomi has unveiled CyberDog, a four-legged robot that could be a competitor to Sony’s AIBO. According to the Chinese company, it is calibrated with servo motors that translates into great speed, agility, and a wide range of motion. It is able to conduct complicated actions such as backflips. “To fully model biological organisms, CyberDog is equipped with 11 high-precision sensors which provide instant feedback to guide its movements. This includes touch sensors, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, GPS modules, and more, giving the CyberDog enhanced capability to sense, analyze, and interact with its environment.” (Mi Blog, 10 August 2021) Unlike AIBO, CyberDog looks rather frightening. This is because it does not have an actual head. In this it is comparable to Spot from Boston Dynamics. Nevertheless, it is intended to function as a pet substitute. “To add to its pet-like nature, users can use voice assistants to command and control CyberDog by setting a wake word, or simply use its accompanying remote and smartphone app. CyberDog can be called on for the most unique tasks, and the ways in which it can be interacted with holds unforetold possibilities.” (Mi Blog, 10 August 2021) The future will show whether users want to become friends with CyberDog.