The robotics industry loves good, healthy debates. Lately, one of the most intense focuses on humanoid robots. It's been a big topic for decades, of course, but the recent proliferation of startups like 1X and Figure, along with projects from more established companies like Tesla, have put humanoids back in the spotlight.
Form factor advocates point out that we have built our world to fit ourselves, so it makes sense that we would build robots like us to fit it. There are also certain advantages in terms of reach, the ability to climb stairs and the dexterity that comes with our design.
Of course, anyone who tells you that the human body is the pinnacle of organic machinery is either misinformed or lying to you. I spent the last year dealing with something called “degenerative disc disease,” a perfect testament to our imperfect design.
Image credits: Agility Robotics (Opens in a new window)
The form factor also flies in the face of decades of conventional wisdom that has advocated single-purpose robots, that is, machines designed to do one thing extremely well many times. And then there's the whole “general purpose” part, which tends to be dismissed without thinking about its underlying complexity.
However, humanoid robots can now claim a big technological name among their ranks. Bill Gates this week issued a list of “cutting-edge robotics labs and startups that excite me.” Among the names are three companies focused on the development of humanoids. The first and most notable is Agility, whose Digit robot is the least human-like of the three. Also included are Apptronik, maker of Apollo, and UCLA's RoMeLa (Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory), which is behind the ARTEMIS soccer game.
Here's what Gates has to say about Apptronik:
What is more useful: multiple robots that can each perform one task over and over, or one robot that can perform multiple tasks and learn to do even more? For Apptronik, an Austin-based startup that emerged from the University of Texas' Human-Centered Robotics Lab, the answer is obvious. That's why they're building “general purpose” bipedal humanoid robots like Apollo, which can be programmed to perform a wide range of tasks, from carrying boxes in a factory to helping with household chores.
Image credits: Apptronik (Opens in a new window)
Writing about Agility, he notes: “If we want robots to operate in our environments as smoothly as possible, perhaps those robots should be modeled after people.” Digit is currently leading the way in terms of real-world deployments, including a recent pilot in Amazon warehouses that helped set the stage for Figure's recent deal with BMW.
Other companies mentioned in the article include robotic perception company Field ai and Tevel, which makes apple-picking drones.
An endorsement like this might not move the needle too far in the humanoid direction, and Gates is no robotics expert. However, it is enlightening to see that the form factor continues to gain more legitimacy every day.
