Key Takeaways
- Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are taking humanoids from the lab to the factory floor, with companies like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Chinese state-supported companies competing to develop human-like robots.
- Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, a 5’9", 200-pound, AI-powered humanoid, is being tested at Hyundai’s new factory in Georgia, with the goal of performing human jobs.
- Atlas learns through supervised learning, machine learning, and simulation, allowing it to master tasks like sorting roof racks and performing jumping jacks.
- The market for humanoids is predicted to reach $38 billion within the decade, with Boston Dynamics and other U.S. robot makers competing against Chinese companies.
- While there are concerns about job displacement, experts believe that robots like Atlas will augment human capabilities and create new job opportunities in fields like robotics maintenance and management.
Introduction to Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots have been a subject of interest for engineers and scientists for decades. The goal of creating robots that look and act like humans has been a challenging one, but recent advances in artificial intelligence have brought this concept closer to reality. Companies like Tesla, startups backed by Amazon and Nvidia, and state-supported Chinese companies are now competing to develop human-like robots that can perform human jobs. One of the frontrunners in this field is Boston Dynamics, a Massachusetts-based company valued at over $1 billion.
Meet Atlas, the Humanoid Robot
Boston Dynamics’ Atlas is a 5’9", 200-pound, AI-powered humanoid that is being tested at Hyundai’s new factory in Georgia. Atlas is designed to work alongside humans, performing tasks like sorting roof racks for the assembly line without human help. According to Zack Jackowski, the head of Atlas development, "This is the first time Atlas has been out of the lab doing real work." Atlas has an AI brain powered by Nvidia’s advanced microchips, which enables it to learn and adapt to new situations. As Bill Whitaker, a journalist who visited the Boston Dynamics lab, noted, "The rise of the robots is science fiction no more."
How Atlas Learns
Atlas learns through supervised learning, machine learning, and simulation. In supervised learning, a human operator takes direct control of the robot, guiding its hands and arms through each task until Atlas gets it. Atlas can also learn through machine learning, where it is trained on data collected from human movements and actions. Additionally, Atlas can learn through simulation, where it is trained in a virtual environment to perform tasks like jumping jacks. As Scott Kuindersma, the head of robotics research at Boston Dynamics, explained, "And it can eventually get to a state where we have many copies of Atlas doing really good jumping jacks."
The Potential of Humanoid Robots
The potential of humanoid robots like Atlas is vast. According to Robert Playter, the CEO of Boston Dynamics, "There’s a lot of excitement in the industry right now about the potential of building robots that are smart enough to really become general purpose." Atlas can see its surroundings and is figuring out how the physical world works, which enables it to perform tasks like sorting roof racks and performing jumping jacks. As Playter noted, "So the analogy might be if I was teaching a child how to do free throws in basketball, if I allow them to just explore and come up with their own solutions, sometimes they can come up with a solution that I didn’t anticipate."
The Future of Humanoid Robots
The future of humanoid robots like Atlas is exciting and uncertain. While there are concerns about job displacement, experts believe that robots like Atlas will augment human capabilities and create new job opportunities in fields like robotics maintenance and management. As Heung-soo Kim, Hyundai’s head of global strategy, noted, "I think we are on track- about the development. Atlas, so far, it’s very successful. It’s a kind of– a start of great journey." The destination of this journey is a humanoid future where robots like us work beside us, walking among us. As Bill Whitaker noted, "It’s enough to make your head spin."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the development of humanoid robots like Atlas is a rapidly advancing field, with companies like Boston Dynamics and Hyundai leading the charge. While there are concerns about job displacement, the potential benefits of humanoid robots are vast, and experts believe that they will augment human capabilities and create new job opportunities. As Robert Playter noted, "We would like things that could be stronger than us or tolerate more heat than us or definitely go into a dangerous place where we shouldn’t be going." The future of humanoid robots is exciting and uncertain, and it will be interesting to see how this technology develops in the coming years.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boston-dynamics-ai-powered-humanoid-robot-learning-factory-work-60-minutes-transcript/