AI-Powered Robotics is Entering a New Era

It is possible that the robot vision is purely a science fiction fantasy or entrepreneurial hype. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times’s editor, believes that this is the case. He said that AI hype was not only dangerous for laypeople’s understanding of the [robotics] field but also poses the risk of undermining it.” This is true and it is crucial to separate the hype from the reality.

Hiltzik may be missing the arc of historical events. Robotics, like the expanding field of AI (AI), are still in its early stages. However, the pace of advancement is incredible. Optimus is still years away from a final product, and there are many technical and cultural hurdles to overcome, but it is hard not to be amazed at the incredible pace of progress. In just one year, Optimus was transformed from a concept to a bipedal, mobile robot. This is a rapidly growing field, as Tesla is not the only one who has built a humanoid robotic robot. A team of engineers at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), for example, has announced a humanoid robotic that can learn Tai Chi.

We have a long way to go before we can achieve AI-powered robots

It is difficult to build robots that mimic human actions. These challenges are described in an EE Times article. Bipedal locomotion, which is walking on two legs, is a very physically demanding task from a mechanics standpoint. The human body has responded by evolving and adapting such that the power density in human joints, including the knees, is very high.” Robots are unable to simply stay upright.

Real progress is being made despite these challenges. Researchers at Oregon State University recently set a Guinness World Record in the 100-meter dash. The robot completed the course in less than 25 seconds. The team has been training “Cassie” since 2017, using reinforcement-learning AI algorithms to reward the robot when it moves correctly. The record’s significance was noted by the lead researcher who stated that “[now] we can make robots move robustly across the globe on two legs.” This feat is impressive because the human body navigates the world using an intricate sensory system.

“The hardest part of creating a machine that interacts naturally with humans is,” Nancy J. Cooke, an Arizona State University professor. It is still very early days to recreate this in a robot. This is a major challenge for Optimus and other humanoid robot efforts.