Archive 06.06.2023

Page 6 of 7
1 4 5 6 7

Swarming microrobots self-organize into diverse patterns

A research collaboration between Cornell and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems has found an efficient way to expand the collective behavior of swarming microrobots: Mixing different sizes of the micron-scale 'bots enables them to self-organize into diverse patterns that can be manipulated when a magnetic field is applied. The technique even allows the swarm to "cage" passive objects and then expel them.

Will AI robots take middle-class jobs?

Our newsfeeds are filled with talk about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in software such as ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion, which can quickly—albeit haphazardly—generate works such as essays and photographs from a text prompt. Reading these, you might be excused for thinking that writers and photographers are soon to go the way of the elevator operator, automated out of existence.

A novel technique to improve the learning ability of robots that perform repetitive tasks

Learning from one's past mistakes is not limited to humans. Computers do it, too. In industries, this is done via computer-based control systems that help operate production systems. For industrial robots that perform specific tasks in batches, say producing clothing, computer chips, or baked goods, the most commonly used control technique is iterative learning control (ILC). Most industries still rely on ILC systems that use a learning strategy called the proportional-type update rule (PTUR). This technique improves the performance of ILC systems by repeating the same task over and over and updating its control input based on errors encountered in previous iterations.

A plant-inspired controller that could facilitate the operation of robotic arms in real-world environments

Many existing robotics systems draw inspiration from nature, artificially reproducing biological processes, natural structures or animal behaviors to achieve specific goals. This is because animals and plants are innately equipped with abilities that help them to survive in their respective environments, and that could thus also improve the performance of robots outside of laboratory settings.

#ICRA2023 awards finalists and winners

In this post we bring you all the paper awards finalists and winners presented during the 2023 edition of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). Congratulations to the winners and finalists!

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Automation Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Student Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Deployed Systems Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Dynamics and Control Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Healthcare and Medical Robotics Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Locomotion Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Manipulation Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Mechanisms and Design Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Multi-Robot Systems Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Navigation Paper

  • IMODE: Real-Time Incremental Monocular Dense Mapping Using Neural Field, by Matsuki, Hidenobu; Sucar, Edgar; Laidlow, Tristan; Wada, Kentaro; Scona, Raluca; Davison, Andrew J.
  • SmartRainNet: Uncertainty Estimation for Laser Measurement in Rain, by Zhang, Chen; Huang, Zefan; Tung, Beatrix; Ang Jr, Marcelo H; Rus, Daniela. (WINNER)
  • Online Whole-Body Motion Planning for Quadrotor Using Multi-Resolution Search, by Ren, Yunfan; Liang, Siqi; Zhu, Fangcheng; Lu, Guozheng; Zhang, Fu.

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Physical Human-Robot Interaction Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Planning Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Robot Learning Paper

ICRA 2023 Outstanding Sensors and Perception Paper

Ranking the best humanoid robots of 2023

Is Rosie the Robot Maid from the Jetsons here yet? Several different types of humanoid are currently deployed commercially or in trials. We’ve come along way since the DARPA Robotics Challenge of 2015/2016, where the most popular footage was the blooper reels of robots falling over and failing to open doors or climb stairs.

The Avatar XPrize of 2019-2022 showcased some extremely sophisticated humanoids that certainly advanced the state of the art but the holy grail of humanoid robots is combining incredible sophistication into a sub $50,000 package. Why $50,000? Wouldn’t some companies pay a lot more? Then again, can’t we buy a car, also a very sophisticated device capable of partial autonomy that is 5 times the size of a humanoid, for less than $50,000? Why is this the benchmark for humanoids?

$50,000 is the annual wage for a single shift of labor at slightly more than $18/hour or minimum wage in every low wage industry. There is a terrible labor shortage and it is the dirty dull and dangerous jobs that are hardest for employers to fill. Companies that can afford to run two or more shifts a day also have more alternatives when it comes to filling their labor gaps. It’s the small to medium size enterprise that is suffering the most in our current economic and demographic conditions.

We don’t need a Six Million Dollar Man.

We need a $50,000 humanoid.

The roll out of sophisticated new robots and how we integrate them into society is at the heart of my early research and my current roles as the Managing Director of Silicon Valley Robotics (explain), VP of Global Robotics for AMT (explain) and the VP of Industrial Activities for the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (explain).

As more and more companies announce their work towards the affordable humanoid robot, I wanted to create a reference chart for myself, and realized that it might be of interest to others as well. The ranking system is just my own opinion and it will be fascinating to see who succeeds and progresses over the next few years. Enjoy this overview and make up your own minds as to which humanoid robot is really the best.

Who’s in the running? (in alphabetical order by company not robot)

  • 1x – Eve
  • Aeolus Robotics – Eva
  • Agility Robotics – Digit
  • Apptronik – Astra
  • Boston Dynamics – Atlas
  • Comma.ai – body
  • Devanthro – Robody
  • Engineered Arts – Ameca
  • Figure – Figure01
  • Giant.ai – Universal Worker
  • IIT – ErgoCub
  • PAL – Reem-C
  • Prosper Robotics – Alfie
  • Sanctuary – Phoenix
  • Tesla – Optimus
  • Toyota – T-HR3

Who isn’t in the running?

Hollywood Humanoids
Hollywood Humanoids are one off robots for the purpose of entertainment, like Sophia from Hanson Robotics, Xoxe from AI Life, or Beonmi from Beyond Imagination. ….

Chinese robots
It’s too hard for me to validate that they exist, work as advertized, and what the specifications are.

Research robots
Love them but they have a different purpose. Only robots with commercial deployment plans, and ideally, a price tag and a date in 2023 or 2024 when they’ll be available for purchase, if they aren’t already being sold.

Not humanoid
I also love robots that work like a humanoid but don’t look human-like. We saw some examples in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, most notably RoboSimian. Once we go down that route, all quadrupeds, and multi-armed robots or wheeled humanlike robots, would qualify. Who knew there were so many robots!

Who have I missed?

I’m hoping to crowdsource some more great robots :)


Read the original article on Substack.

ROBOTIC WELDING CELL FOR FULLY AUTOMATED WELDING

Modular, collaborative, and flexible: the “Handling-to-Welding” robotic welding cell joins parts of different geometries and materials. The task is carried out by two robots – the handling robot positions the workpieces, the second robot performs the welding. Depending on the cell configuration, lock gates are available for the inward and outward transport of parts. Furthermore, various positioners, a TCP measurement system, a torch cleaning system, a gripper station, and a contact tip change system are also possible.

Fronius Perfect Welding

We aspire to produce more than just welding systems, which is why we are the innovation leader for arc welding and are constantly developing welding processes further. In addition to welding technology for robot applications, we offer solutions for manual gas shielded arc welding, for MIG/MAG, TIG, and MMA welding processes. We also implement automated, complete welding solutions tailored to customer requirements in the field of welding automation. After all, welding creates connections - between metals, between industries, and between people. Connected by the arc, by passion, by the beat of welding.

Robot Talk Episode 51 – James Kell

Claire chatted to James Kell from Jacobs Engineering UK all about civil infrastructure, nuclear robotics and jet engine inspection.

James Kell is Robotics Technical Director at Jacobs Engineering UK. He is responsible for the internal robotics technical strategy and is actively looking to apply the decades worth of robotics and remote handling experience that Jacobs has to the wider market in other sectors. The overall intention is to extend the life of critical national infrastructure like roads, rail, and water. James’s previously worked for Rolls-Royce where his role was to develop keyhole surgery technologies to service jet engines. James is also a member of the Robotics Growth Partnership, supported by BEIS.

Page 6 of 7
1 4 5 6 7