Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

Humanoids

Roam Robotics secures $12 million investment led by Yamaha Motor

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Roam Robotics, a company building robotic exoskeletons for everyday people as they live, work and play, has completed a $12 million Series A round of funding.

Yamaha Motor led the investment round with participation from existing and new investors Boost VC, Heuristics Capital Partners, Menlo Ventures, R7 Partners, Spero Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, and Venture Investment Associates. Collectively these investors bring a wealth of experience in robotics, hardware, and consumer startups.

Tim Swift, Roam founder and chief executive officer, says: “Roam exists to change the boundaries of human mobility.  [Read more…] about Roam Robotics secures $12 million investment led by Yamaha Motor

Sarcos Robotics says it has overcome ‘major obstacle’ to commercial deployment of its exoskeletons

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Sarcos Robotics says it has overcome a “major obstacle” to the commercial deployment of its exoskeletons.

Sarcos says a number of significant technology advancements for its highly anticipated Guardianä XO Max full-body, powered industrial exoskeleton robotic system.

The company, which plans to start shipping the Guardian XO Max to customers in early 2020, has completed the assembly of the world’s first all-electric, battery-powered, full-body industrial exoskeleton capable of enabling a human operator to safely lift and manipulate up to 200 pounds for extended work sessions.  [Read more…] about Sarcos Robotics says it has overcome ‘major obstacle’ to commercial deployment of its exoskeletons

Fast-growing exoskeleton market set to exceed $5 billion in annual revenue, says report

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The fast-growing exoskeleton market is forecast to exceed $5 billion in annual revenue over the next 10 years, according to consultants at ABI Research.

Across a range of applications, exoskeletons are increasingly being introduced to augment human capability; for assistive purposes in the workplace, and for enabling and rehabilitative purposes for the healthcare market.

Though a technology that has been talked about since the Sixties, exoskeletons are only now beginning to demonstrate their practical value. As of 2018, global shipments stand at 7 thousand units with a global hardware revenue of $192 million.  [Read more…] about Fast-growing exoskeleton market set to exceed $5 billion in annual revenue, says report

Space scientists are building ‘robotoids’ because ‘humans never went to the moon’, says researcher

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Space scientists are developing humanoid robots that they can send to the moon and other celestial bodies because human beings are biologically incapable of leaving Earth’s protective layers without dying, according to an alternative historian.

Michael Tsarion, who is a well-known conspiracy buff and has a massive following, shares an opinion that, in fact, is held by many millions of people around the world.

That view is that the Apollo moon landing in 1969, led by Neil Armstrong, was a hoax and the filming for it was done by Stanley Kubrick, the famous director who made classic sci-fi films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey.  [Read more…] about Space scientists are building ‘robotoids’ because ‘humans never went to the moon’, says researcher

Leading humanoid roboticist unveils new android

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One of the world’s leading humanoid roboticist has unveiled a new android which is modeled on a 10-year-old boy, although no-one specific. (See video below.) 

Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, Wakayama University, Japan, has previously made a robot called Geminoid that looked exactly like himself and another modeled on a young woman, which he called Erica.

The new robot, called Ibuki, and the IEEE has given us all permission to panic over it.

While some would say it’s a technical achievement, others would say it’s downright creepy.

Ibuki gets around on wheels but “can fake walking”, meaning it looks like it’s walking if you view the top half.

humanoid robot ishiguro
Professor Ishiguro (right) with his Geminoid robot (left)

What its application might be is uncertain, but this is more of a research robot rather than a commercial one.

But according to a story on TechWorld.com, Professor Ishiguro “wants a humanoid future” when humans and androids live together.

“The more human we make robots, the more we will accept them in our daily lives,” he said.

 

Artificial intelligence versus natural stupidity: What will save us when the robots take over?

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Neural nirvana. Or ignorance is bliss. An opinion piece.

Theoretically speaking, computers can be programmed to mimic everything that a human says or does – or thinks. That might not be the reality now, but most people would probably accept that it’s only a matter of time before we see a fully-functioning humanoid robot, cyborg or android that is indistinguishable from the average human.

But even when they are able to copy us in every way, walking like us, talking like us, and so on, can they, in theory, become conscious?

One problem with answering that question properly is that not everyone agrees on the definition of consciousness.  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence versus natural stupidity: What will save us when the robots take over?

Robots in space: Russians to send Fedor the humanoid robot to the International Space Station

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The Russian space agency is planning to send its humanoid robot Fedor to the International Space Station.

Fedor stands for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research and seems to have been developed as a fighting robot.

Fedor can shoot guns, drive cars and use a variety of tools, including drills, according to a video by Interesting Engineering (video below).  [Read more…] about Robots in space: Russians to send Fedor the humanoid robot to the International Space Station

Biology and robotics enter into an unholy union to bring forth nightmare creatures from the very depths of hell

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The worlds of biology and robotics are increasingly merging and the end result will inevitably be the creation of hellish creatures that will be called “androids”, “cyborgs” or even simply “robots”. 

And with the growing capabilities of additive manufacturing or 3D printing which use sophisticated materials and techniques, the knowledge and the tools will be more widely available to create these creatures more easily than ever before.

In a recent development, a brand new, combined biomedical engineering and robotics centre was opened in Australia.  [Read more…] about Biology and robotics enter into an unholy union to bring forth nightmare creatures from the very depths of hell

Disney demonstrates humanoid robot that can fly and perform acrobatics

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Stuntronics figure can autonomously decide when to perform somersaults while flying through the air, says Disney (see video below)

The stuntman, or stunts person, has always been highly regarded by filmmakers and fans even though very few of them are famous. 

Everyone knows that behind every famous action film star is a stunt double who undertakes to do the dangerous things that maybe nobody should do anymore in this day and age of computer-generated imagery and special effects which can make everyone and everything look real even when they’re not.

But no matter how realistic the CGI, most people would probably be able to tell the difference between machinima and real cinema.  [Read more…] about Disney demonstrates humanoid robot that can fly and perform acrobatics

Briefing – Products and Markets: Humanoid robots struggle to find a place in today’s society

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Humanoids are probably the type of robots that the general public finds most fascinating. 

Yes, industrial robotic arms have their own attractions – the way they move so precisely and can work endlessly – but humanoids, for obvious reasons, possess the ultimate allure.

And if they take the form of your favourite person in the world – perhaps that film star you’ve had a crush on all your life – well, you’re practically in heaven.  [Read more…] about Briefing – Products and Markets: Humanoid robots struggle to find a place in today’s society