Marc Raibert, the founder of Boston Dynamics, commented in a recent interview that he was impressed with the progress of Tesla’s Optimus robot prototype and its potential. He noted, however, that there is still a long way to go in terms of the form factor, efficacy and viability of humanoid robots which have been a topic of conversation over the years.
Reopening this debate, Peter Barrett from Playground Global argued that human bodies would not be seen as prime examples of efficient or expertly crafted constructions, despite the fact that we have been habitually clever and fast enough to attack and outrun mammoths. It is also reasonable to anticipate that for our robots to succeed in carrying out our labour, we would design them resembling our own image.
This week, Figure is revealing its activities after working undercover for some time. In September we revealed that the startup had been set up by Brett Adcock, the co-founder of Archer, who had personally invested $100 million to manufacture a two-legged, multipurpose robotic human. It is certainly not an easy task to realize this ambition. No one has been successful in deciphering the code, but they have certainly put a great effort into it.
The new company offers a team of 40 people with exceptional backgrounds.
Adcock informs TechCrunch that their team brings together ex-Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Apple SPG, IHMC, Cruise, and Alphabet X professionals. They are devoted to creating a brighter tomorrow through the combination of AI and robotics. Fortunate enough to have employed the most gifted people in AI, Controls, Electrical, Integration, Software and Mechanical Systems, they are now aiming to bring robots out of the laboratory and turn them into everyday commodities. This is something our team has had aspirations of achieving for a long time.
The company finished the alpha version of the robot in December and it is now being examined in its Sunnyvale workplace. The pictures of the Figure 01 that the company released look to be very similar to those of Tesla when it revealed its robotic.
Adcock describes that their group has created what is most likely the most advanced electromechanical humanoid robot in history. They are already in the process of building a newer and more complex model that will be ready for use in business situations. They believe that verifying its performance in a commercial setting is the key goal they need to reach with their robot.
At present, the system is focused on a variety of manual labor tasks. These jobs include job roles commonly associated with industrial robotics such as warehouse management, order fulfillment, logistics, manufacturing and retail. The ultimate aim is for the robots to be able to accomplish all types of jobs, but there are still obstacles as to why robots have traditionally been built to undertake a single, constant task. The public is unaware of if the company plans on taking a hardware platform approach that is similar to the products such as Spot.
Adcock states that they are aiming to create horizontal hardware that can be implemented in various sectors. This technology would be utilized to modernize a range of industries, including corporate labor, home assistance, elderly care, and interplanetary exploration. Nevertheless, their first objective is to tackle the labor shortage challenges in a number of workplaces including factories, delivery services, warehouses, and stores. We think it is essential to modify our business structure to attain income promptly.
He refrained from discussing the development of Tesla’s systems; however, it is apparent that fresh entrants in the market will illustrate both the aptitude and struggle of the format.
