Tag: All-purpose Robots

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Unitree Robots in Venice

At the 2025 Architecture Biennale in Venice, Unitree robots are part of both an installation and a performance. While one robot paints on a canvas, the other plays music. However, you have to be lucky to see the performance, because most of the time the humanoid robots stand still or hang in the air. This is disappointing for visitors, who turn their attention to Alter3, which seems to know no fatigue. Another performance featuring carving cobots is also not on display, according to the media, for safety reasons. On the screen, you can see the arms reaching out to the audience. Although such proximity is normal for a cobot, individual visitors, such as children, can be unpredictable. So, in the hall where the robots are concentrated, there is at least one negative example of how a robot park should not be implemented. Information about the Biennale Architettura is available on the website.

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First Human-Robot Marathon

According to several media reports, humanoid robots will take part in a half marathon together with humans for the first time in Beijing in April 2025. Around 12,000 people will run the 21-kilometre course, accompanied by robots from more than 20 companies worldwide. The robots must look humanoid, be able to move on two legs, and be between 0.5 and 2 metres tall. The majority of the larger models are likely to be so-called all-purpose robots. Both remote-controlled and autonomous robots are permitted – with the option of changing batteries during the race. The premiere is part of a broader strategy by China to promote humanoid robots to achieve technological independence, boost the economy, and compete in the global technology race, especially with the US. Last year, the humanoid robot Galbot had already supported a marathon final, but this time the machines are running the full distance (Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0).

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An Electric New Era for Atlas

In recent years, a large number of quadruped and bipedal robots have been created. Many of them were 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. In these dynamic and productive times, the company, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group, announces the end of the hydraulic version of the humanoid robot. A post on LinkedIn from April 17, 2024 states: “Atlas has sparked our imagination, inspired new roboticists, and leapt over technical barriers. Now it’s time for our hydraulic Atlas robot to kick back and relax. Take a look at everything we’ve accomplished with the Atlas platform to date.” (Boston Dynamics, 17 April 2024) At the end of the video it says: “‘Til we meet again, Atlas.” This immediately raised hopes of a successor. In fact, Boston Dynamics presented an electric, extremely mobile version on its blog just a few hours later. The title of the article is: “An Electric New Era for Atlas” (Image: Boston Dynamics).