Research Notes on Humanoid Robots

Re:Research Notes on Humanoid Robots by TaylorAlexander on Wednesday December 15, 2021 @09:07PM (#29574012)

I am a robotics engineer. Everyone wanted to mock Tesla for their announcement. And sure, it may well be vaporware. But I do think they have the resources to buy/build something that works, and moreover their Dojo AI system would possibly be well suited for training a humanoid. This is a major piece which other companies do not have. Finally they have the manufacturing capability to spin up a manufacturing line.

However it is weird for them to make the announcement without any hardware to show. It’s kind of like me announcing I’m going to climb Mount Everest. I could, probably, but there is a lot to be done between then and now.

I think Tesla could do it, if they really believe there is enough profit in it to make a massive investment. They could purchase Agility Robotics and be well on their way. So I think it’s possible, but only with significant investment. Time will tell what really happens.

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Re:Research Notes on Humanoid Robots by sovreign on Wednesday December 15, 2021 @09:30PM (#29574131)

I agree, time will tell. At least AI day was promoted more as a recruiting event rather than a showcase or product announcement. Agility Robotics really has a good chunk of the hardware figured out with Digit. Gonna be interesting to see how this plays out (and how quickly).

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Re:Research Notes on Humanoid Robots by TaylorAlexander on Thursday December 16, 2021 @12:11AM (#29575160)

Yep. Tesla has a fast path to success if they can buy Agility Robotics. Then they can slap their AI hardware on Digit, start training navigation in Dojo, rev the Digit design to integrate that AI hardware, and the hardware engineers will be spinning up production in parallel to the AI team training navigation. In one year they could be showing off a Tesla robot walking around the Tesla factory moving boxes (Agility already has this demo).

I also just think Digit plausibly looks like a Tesla product (as opposed to Boston Dynamics Atlas).

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Re:Research Notes on Humanoid Robots by lootsauce on Wednesday December 15, 2021 @10:35PM (#29574479)

ok as someone in the field if they were to produce an humanoid how the hell would that work because I try to follow robotics and to produce something with the capabilities of a human is not something you see ANYONE doing well. Robotics actuators are all motors, gears/belts and to replicate human level functionality would require some serious advancements. Or maybe I'm unaware of some existing tech out there? These are not just nobody bothered to design one yet types of issues, they are fundamental physics problems you don't get to wave away with good showmanship.

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Re:Research Notes on Humanoid Robots by TaylorAlexander on Wednesday December 15, 2021 @11:31PM (#29574886)

The robot I am most personally impressed with is Agility Robotics Digit. It is a real human like form factor (small human not huge!). If I recall correctly it is an energy efficient walking system too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jycdks836bY

This long continuous shot of walking from 2019 is nice too. They have improved their software a lot but the hardware was already in good shape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YrlR1iNVcQ

Meanwhile Boston Dynamics is doing quite well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF4DML7FIWk

Best path to success is Tesla buys Agility Robotics, revs the design for Digit to integrate the Tesla AI system, and spins up a manufacturing line. They could focus immediately on the high level AI problem rather than worrying about design. Could slap their AI system on digit while mechanical teams rev the new design so they get moving quickly.

Disclosure: I do not work for any of these companies or any related company. I am making a farming robot (see my profile).

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