Figure 02 Hype
The specs are in for Figure’s new highly anticipated humanoid robot, Figure 02.
FigureAI calls the Figure 02 the most advanced humanoid robot on the planet and the first commercially viable autonomous humanoid robot.
The Figure 02 has 3x more computing power than its predecessor, the Figure 01. CNET notes the robot’s wires are hidden, implying that Figure is moving past the prototype stage where easy access to parts is needed for fixes and adjustments.
Its foot design is more human-like, suitable for a sneaker fitting. The 5’6″ Figure 02 has six cameras to see and understand its surroundings. It talks to people using built-in microphones and speakers. Its human-like hands can carry up to 55 pounds.
The battery runs for 5 hours, a 50 percent improvement.
Figure 02 at BMW
The robot, also noted for its high torque ratings, was tested performing real-world tasks at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
BMW is exploring how advanced humanoid robots can be integrated into vehicle production after what the German company calls a successful trial with the Figure 02. In a press release, the luxury automaker noted there are no Figure AI robots in use at the plant and no definitive plans to use them going forward.
The robot successfully inserted sheet metal parts during the trial, which BMW said requires considerable dexterity that could not previously be achieved with robots.
The German company said there’s potential for using humanoid robots for tasks that are difficult, tiring, or unsafe for human workers.
The trial was part of BMW ‘s broader iFactory vision for efficient, digitally transformed and sustainable car production.
Earlier this year, Figure announced it had secured $675 million in funding from OpenAI and others. The partnership accelerated the development of the humanoid’s conversational abilities.
Weeks after the February announcement, Figure released footage of the robot conversing in real-time. The robot’s AI models were developed in partnership with OpenAI and trained on NVIDIA GPUs, enabling the Figure 02 to interact with people through voice commands.
According to NVIDIA’s blog, FigureAI accelerated the robot’s development using Isaac Sim, a reference application built on the Omniverse platform. The synthetic data was used to design, train and test the robot. NVIDIA said a second RTX-GPU on board makes the robot three times better at performing AI tasks on its own compared to the original.
Walker S Lite at Zeekr Smart Factory
Two of these humanoid robots worked around-the-clock for at least 21 days at Zeekr’s 5G Smart Factory.
The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer is testing the UBTech Walker S Lite humanoid robots for tasks like lifting and carrying materials and assisting in smart manufacturing operations.
The Walker S Lite is a lighter, more deployable version of the Walker S that’s reportedly been in testing at Nio, another Chinese EV maker. The Lite version handles general manufacturing tasks, while the Walker S is suited for complex tasks like quality inspections and assembly line integrations.
The Walker S Lite can create 3D semantic maps for navigation. It recognizes and grasps objects with hand-eye coordination.
The testing is part of a collaboration between UBTech , Miracle Automation Engineering, and Zeekr’s parent company, Geely Holding. Zeekr, founded in March 2021, specializes in high-tech, luxury electric vehicles.
Facial Expressions Get Real
Chinese scientists say they’ve cracked the challenge of making humanoid robots show realistic facial expressions.
They say the two-step process they’ve devised can improve human-robot interactions in roles like customer service and caregiving.
Software teaches the robot to create detailed facial expressions by using Action Units to isolate emotion-related features. The isolation helps the robot focus on emotions, making its expressions more accurate. The robot’s face moves naturally using motor commands to match the expressions.
The robot was developed by Professor Liu Xiafeng’s team at Hohai University. The findings were presented in the International journal IEEE Transactions on Robotics.
4NE-1 Cognitive Humanoid Robot
NEURA Robotics says its humanoid robot, the 4NE-1, has cognitive abilities. The German company says the robot can see, hear and even touch.
NEURA released new footage of the 5-foot-11 humanoid robot to coincide with its announcement that it joined NVIDIA’s Humanoid Robot Developer Program aimed at accelerating robot deployment globally.
The AI robot has sensors for multi-modal interaction and 3D vision for recognizing objects and environments. Its force-torque sensors give it a sense of touch. The robot also has a touchless human detection sensor. With interchangeable forearms, the 4NE-1 is designed for an array of tasks in industrial and domestic settings. The new video shows the robot ironing and moving boxes.
Besides the 4NE-1 , NEURA’s product lineup includes the LARA series cobots and MAiRIA, which the company calls the first commercially available cognitive robot.
NVIDIA has been vocal about humanoid robots, investing heavily in their development and capabilities. Program members get early access to foundational models in NVIDIA’s Project Group. The project, announced earlier in 2024, uses NVIDIA’s tech to teach robots how to move and interpret human language.
A robotic startup could use a foundational model with their hardware as a starting point. Since the model already knows a lot, the startup can focus on teaching the robot to perform tasks that can’t yet be automated.
Richtech Robotics Expands ADAM Deployments
A humanoid robot named ADAM is now serving drinks at Walmart in Rockford, Illinois.
The AI robot, developed by Richtech Robotics, will serve drinks like coffee and boba tea at the One Kitchen restaurant inside the department store.
Beavers Wealth Universe, which owns the One Kitchen restaurant brand, plans to introduce ADAM in 240 Ghost Kitchens, which are virtual kitchens used for delivery and takeout. The parent company created a new company, AlphaMax Management, to manage the robotic integrations and customer service.
Las Vegas-based Richtech also recently deployed ADAM to dispense drinks like lemon drops and whiskey sours at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field. The robot served more than 500 drinks in its first week. The company says ADAM makes work easier for stadium employees especially on busy game days.
Berkeley Humanoid
This is Berkeley Humanoid, a low-cost mid-sized robot intended for researching learning-based control.
The research platform was developed by Berkeley’s Hybrid Robotics research group. The researchers describe the robot as lightweight and easy to build in-house. It’s designed for learning new control methods with simple simulations.
Hybrid Robotics says the robot is tough and durable so it can fall repeatedly and continue working. It performs tests outside on different terrains and can move in all directions easily.
The group says the Berkeley Humanoid is great for studying and developing new robotics tech.
Growing Anxiety in US over China’s Humanoid Robots
Are China’s humanoid robots heading toward a ban in the United States?
Jacob Helberg, who played a major role in convincing Congress to force the sale or ban of TikTok, is urging Congress to act. He’s a member of the influential US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
He told the New York Post allowing the sale of robots by firms beholden to Beijing could prove disastrous. The Post reported that support for a potential ban is growing.
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