The fascination with humanoid robots is still going strong. In spite of research that shows that people generally prefer robots that don’t look much like people, new and improved humanoid robots are popping up every day.
Aura, billed as “the most humanoid robot,” is greeting people at Sphere, a new Las Vegas venue. Aura is luring people in, too, with messages like this: “Your emotions, your humor and your relationship with technology require further study, so you must visit me at Sphere. I am excited to meet you and introduce you to the future of live entertainment at my new home.”
Pretty irresistible, right?
Agility Robotics is fixing to open a facility to build 10,000 humanoid robots in the next year. “The opening of our factory marks a pivotal moment in the history of robotics: the beginning of the mass production of commercial humanoid robots,”Agility Robotics’ CEO Damion Shelton told Tech Crunch. “We built Digit to solve difficult problems in today’s workforce like injuries, burnout, high turnover and unfillable labor gaps, with the ultimate vision of enabling humans to be more human.”
Again, irresistible.
Finally, NASA is rolling out Apptronik’s Apollo, yet another humanoid robot which boasts “varying dexterity levels, autonomous functions and different tools.” NASA’s Shaun Azimi told Space.com, “We are proud to see our efforts result in robotics technology that will benefit the American economy and assist humans in working safely and productively here on Earth and potentially in space exploration as well.”
So is it time to get excited?
Despite progress, there are still significant challenges to overcome in creating truly capable and practical humanoid robots. These challenges include developing robust and adaptable walking mechanisms, improving sensory perception and object manipulation, and ensuring safety and reliability.
The potential for widespread use of humanoid robots raises ethical questions about job displacement, privacy, and the potential for misuse. Society needs to carefully consider these issues as the technology continues to evolve.
And evolve it will; as potential end users, we may not be fully on board with the idea, but humanoid robots are certainly exciting the imaginations of many researchers.