The startup making robots a reality

Is it more difficult for a machine to imitate the way humans move, or is it more difficult to imitate the way humans think? If you had asked me this question ten years ago, my answer would have been "thinking." After all, there are still many mysteries about how the brain works. However, just in the last year, advances in artificial intelligence have enabled computer programs to create, calculate, process, understand, make decisions, recognize patterns, and continue to learn in human-like ways.

Build machines that work like our bodies—walk, jump, touch, hold, squeeze, grip, climb, cut, and stretch (or even better), seems like an easier task than imitating the human mind. But surprisingly, this is not the case. Many robots still struggle to perform basic tasks that require dexterity, motor skills, and cognitive abilities that most people take for granted.

But if we master the right technology, the uses of robots are almost unlimited: when natural disasters occur, robots can assist in rescue operations. People wouldn’t have to risk their lives — such as during a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, when human interactions can lead to the spread of disease. On farms, they can replace toxic chemical herbicides and manually pull weeds. On the factory floor, they can haul hundreds or thousands of pounds for long periods of time. A good enough robotic arm is also very valuable as a prosthetic limb.

I understand the concern about robots taking away human jobs, which is an unfortunate consequence of almost every innovation—including the Internet (e.g., the Internet Individuals became travel agents and eliminated much of the vacation planning industry). If robots have a similar impact on employment, governments and the private sector will have to help people cope with the transition. But given the labor shortages in the current economy, and the danger or lack of reward of certain occupations, I believe robots are less likely to replace jobs we love and more likely to do jobs people don’t want to do. In the process, they can make us safer, healthier, more productive, and even less lonely.

That's why I'm so excited about the companies across the country and around the world that are at the forefront of robotics and are working to lead a robotics revolution. Some of their robots are humanoid or humanoid structures - built to interact easily in environments designed for humans. There are also robots with superhuman properties such as flight or extendable arms that augment the abilities of ordinary people. Some robots move on legs, others have wheels. Some use sensors to navigate, others are operated by remote control.

While they are different, one thing is for sure: in healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and even in our homes , robots have the potential to change the way we live and work. In fact, some are already doing it.

Here are some of the cutting-edge robotics startups and labs I’m excited about:

Agility Robotics

If we want robots to operate in our environment as seamlessly as possible, maybe These robots should be modeled after humans. That's exactly what Oregon-based Agility Robotics had in mind when they created Digit, which they call "the first human-centered, multi-purpose robot for logistics work." It's roughly the size of a human being - and it's designed to work alongside humans, operating wherever we go and integrating into our workflows. But it is capable of carrying heavier loads and extending its "arms" to reach shelves that we would need a ladder to reach.

Tevel

For farmers in some wealthy countries , about 40% of the cost of planting comes from labor-workers have to be exposed to the scorching sun all day and do not stop working until night. Given the shortage of agricultural labor, farms often have to discard fruit that is not harvested in time. That’s why Tel Aviv-based Tevel has created autonomous robots capable of flying that can scan tree canopies and pick ripe apples and stone fruit around the clock, while collecting comprehensive picking data in real time.

Apptronik

Which is more effective: multiple can be repeated A robot that performs a single task, or a robot that can perform multiple tasks and learn to do more? For Apptronik, an Austin-based startup spun out of the Human-Centered Robotics Laboratory at the University of Texas, the answer is clearly the latter. So they're building "universal" humanoid bipedal robots like Apollo that can be programmed to perform a range of tasks—from carrying boxes in a factory to helping around the house. Since the Apollo robot can run third-party software, new functions can be implemented by simply upgrading the software.

RoMeLa

Create a platform that can survive rough and unstable Navigating the terrain and keeping your robot balanced without falling over is no easy task. But UCLA’s Robotics and Machinery Laboratory (RoMeLa) is working to improve the robot’s locomotion capabilities. They may have solved this problem with ARTEMIS, a robot that is likely to be the fastest "running" robot in the world, and it is also very difficult to lose its balance. ARTEMIS also participated in the 2023 Robot World Cup (RoboCup 2023) held in France in July this year.

Field AI

Some robots require more than just excellent " body” and also requires an excellent brain. That’s exactly what Field AI, a Southern California-based robotics company that doesn’t build robots, is trying to create. Rather than focusing on the hardware for these machines, Field AI develops artificial intelligence software for other companies' robots, allowing them to sense their environment, navigate without GPS (on land, water or in the air) and even communicate with each other.