Robotics expert and founder of iRobot and Robust.ai Rodney Brooks recently mentioned that the AI hype is readying for a brutal reality check. As per Brooks, the 60+ year history of AI is following a typical hype cycle and will witness a lull soon.
While the fade in AI hype is yet to happen, advancements in robotics are on an upward trajectory. It’s only been a week into the new year, and Google DeepMind has already released a flurry of updates in robotics.
Deep Into Robotics
Last week, Google DeepMind released three robotics research systems—AutoRT, SARA-RT and RT-Trajectory—that will aid robots to make faster decisions and better understand and navigate their environments. The models will help with data collection, speed, and generalisation.
AutoRT helps in harnessing the potential of large language models by collecting more experiential and diverse data. SARA-RT (Self-adaptive robust attention for robotics transformers) employs an ‘up-training’ method to transform robotics transformer models into more efficient versions.
RT-Trajectory automatically adds 2D trajectory sketches to training videos, thereby helping the model in learning low-level robot control policies by providing practical visual cues.
Sara RT-2 model for manipulation tasks. Source: Google DeepMind Blog
Robots for Utility
Google DeepMind is building these state-of-the-art robotics models with the vision to allow them to be integrated in future robots, and they are mostly focused on general purpose.
Last week, Stanford University introduced Mobile ALOHA, a system designed to replicate bimanual mobile manipulation tasks necessitating whole body control. The project was provided by Google DeepMind and the technology addresses the limitations of traditional imitation learning from human demonstrations.
These general purpose robots are demonstrated to help with multiple tasks such as cooking, cleaning, lifting weights, and other manual activities. Industrial robots have been the biggest use cases for robotics. The warehouse robotics market size is estimated to hit $7.93 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach $17.91 billion by 2029, with a CAGR of 17.7%.
While general purpose robots are finding increasing use cases across industries, research and development of humanoid robots is not far behind.
Multifaceted Humanoid Robots
In the last few months, Tesla’s Optimus has received multiple upgrades, inching it closer to the vision that founder Elon Musk had built it for. When released in 2022, though impressive, the humanoid was unable to execute tasks and was only able to make a waving gesture in a diffident manner.
However, after almost a year, in September 2023, the humanoid was able to pick and sort objects, navigate around and even do yoga.
Last month, further updates were announced as Optimus-Gen 2 incorporated new actuators and sensors that enables a 2 degree of freedom that allows more movement, and has improved hand movements.
Tesla’s Optimus works on neural networks, whereas other humanoid robots such as those created by Boston Dynamics work on rule-based systems. Known for their robot dogs, their humanoid robot Atlas had received major updates last year too.
Furthermore, the company partnered with entertainment company Neon Group to create robotic-driven experiences for entertainment and educational purposes. AI robotics company Figure, recently released updates for Figure-01 humanoid where the robot demonstrates making coffee, something that was learned from watching humans make coffee.
Amazon is also testing out humanoid robots in select warehouses in the US. Amazon is working on robots Digit that can imitate human movements and be used for lifting and handling items in factories.
Year of Robotics?
While 2024 may probably be termed as the year of Robotics, considering how researchers have already shared updates within a week into 2024, the real breakthrough is still awaited. Hoping for the GPT-4 moment of Robotics is not as easy as it seems.
With massive investments and prolonged periods for testing and implementation of each individual task, developments in this field are slow. However, companies are not abandoning these ambitious projects.
Interestingly, in November of last year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) that oversees the industrial sector of China stated that in 2025 the country will achieve mass production of humanoid robots. They are looking to achieve major breakthroughs to help hit a humanoid robot innovation system.
