AI Robots – When will they be in our homes

Part 1 – We Were Promised Rosie From Babybots to Humanoids The Helper Robots of Our Sci-Fi Dreams Where’s My Robot? Part 2 – The Robot Race Is On An Exciting Time for Robotics The Top Humanoid Robots They Work Hard, They Play Hard AI: Fuel for the Robot Explosion Part 3 – Time for Some Robot History Roomba Roams in Millions of Homes The Evolution of Asimo Why Build Robots That Resemble People? Part 4 – The Uncanny Valley That’s Creepy! Entering the Uncanny Valley The Uncanny Valley Chart Part 5 – Robot Hardware The Challenges of Building Humanoids Sensors, Computers, Batteries The Problem With Actuators Part 6 – AI for Robots The Software Side Enter AI AI Models for Robots Part 7 – The Future of Robots Are the Robots Coming? The Nothing’s-Changed Scenario Not the Robots From the Movies Our New AI Robots Are the Best Credits IEEE Spectrum Team More Robots To Probe Further Photo & Video Credits Humanoid Robots What are today’s most advanced humanoid robots? Why do we try to make robots that resemble people? What are humanoid robots used for? What types of jobs are humanoids best suited for? What are the top humanoid robot companies? Is Tesla building a humanoid robot? What is the most famous humanoid robot? Are today’s humanoids safe for our homes? Robot History What lessons can robot makers learn from Roomba? When did Honda start developing Asimo? How has Asimo evolved? When and why did Honda retire Asimo? Creepy Robots What is an example of a lifelike humanoid? What is the Uncanny Valley? Who came up with the Uncanny Valley idea? What is the Uncanny Valley chart? What is the Uncanny Valley used for in robotics? Robot Hardware What hardware does a typical humanoid require? How are sensors used in a robot? How are computers used in a robot? How are batteries used in a robot? How are actuators used in a robot? What is the problem with current robot actuators? How many actuators does a humanoid need? How could we make actuators better? Robots and AI What is one of the hardest problems in robotics? What is the goal of a robot learning algorithm? Why has generative AI electrified robotics? What is the first step to develop AI for robots? Can you train AI models in simulation? Can AI finally “solve” robot learning? What could a general-purpose AI model for robots do? The Future of Robots Where will humanoids be used first? Should we worry about a robot uprising like in movies? Can we predict when humanoids will be in our homes? If not humanoids, what robots could help with housework? Robots (in alphabetical order) Aila showing its components Albert Hubo greeting people AMBIDEX interacting with people and objects Apollo making juice Apollo carrying boxes Armar holding a power drill Asimo daydreaming Asimo running, hopping, and kicking a ball Asimo taking a bow Asimo balancing on one foot Asimo waving goodbye Asimo evolving from E and P series Astro facing forward Astro spinning around Astro looking at a dog Atlas carrying plastic engine covers Atlas demonstrating its flexibility Atlas doing push-ups Atlas HD dancing Atlas HD jumping over an obstacle Atlas HD doing backflips Atlas HD stumbling and falling Atlas HD jumping and carrying objects Atlas HD bumping into objects and falling DARPA competition robots falling Digit working in a warehouse Digit carrying bins Digit waving hi Digit navigating and finding bins Digit removing a tray from the oven E Series learning to walk Eve opening doors Eve standing and smiling Everyday Robot grasping toys Falcon 9 landing Figure 01 using a coffeemaker Figure 02 handling factory parts Figure 02 moving its hands Geminoid HI-1 sitting next to Hiroshi Ishiguro G1 manipulating a stick G1 cracking a walnut G1 holding a frying pan G1 running G1 showing off its flexibility GR-1 standing up Hand Arm System showing its cable system HRP-2 falling backwards H1 getting kicked iCub crawling Nadia boxing Neo picking up a backpack Neo grabbing a shirt from a rack Neo unloading a dishwasher Optimus dancing Optimus stretching Optimus training with teleoperation Phoenix grasping cups Phoenix showing its head sensors Phoenix making a sandwich π0 assembling boxes π0 folding clothes π0 doing laundry Roomba (first model) vacuuming a carpet Roomba vacuuming popcorn Roomba vacuuming granola Roomba going over thick carpet Roomba and cat Rosie preparing a snack Rosie boiling sausages Stretch stretching its arm Stretch serving a drink Stretch cleaning the kitchen Stretch dog sitting Groups of Robots (in order of appearance) Robot collage: today’s top humanoids Robot cards: Apollo, Atlas, Digit, Figure, GR-1, H1, Neo, Tesla Robot Optimus, and Phoenix Creepy collage: lifelike humanoids Uncanny Valley chart: Kuka, Asimo, and Albert Hubo AI simulation: Apollo, H1, and Digit learning to walk Sci-Fi Robots (in order of appearance) T-800 from “The Terminator” Andrew from “Bicentennial Man” Robot from “Sunny” Humanoid from “Robot & Frank” Rosie from “The Jetsons” C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars” Instead we got Roomba. Where’s My Robot? Here’s how we could finally build humanoid robots that do all our domestic chores By Erico Guizzo & Randi Klett 11 Nov 2024 Updated 18 Nov 2024 12 MIN READ This article is part of IEEE Spectrum’s “Reinventing Invention” special issue → Thanks for scrolling! Concept & Text/Media Erico Guizzo & Randi Klett Development Erico Guizzo & Erik Vrielink Additional Reporting Evan Ackerman Special Issue Editor Eliza Strickland Executive Editor Jean Kumagai Creative Director Mark Montgomery Editor in Chief Harry Goldstein Special Thanks To all robot makers and researchers who kindly helped us with information and materials, and allowed us to feature their amazing projects here. More Robots Learn more about the robots and technologies featured in this story, most of which you can find on IEEE Spectrum’s Robots Guide. In order of appearance: iCub, Atlas HD, Atlas, Nadia, G1, Florian, Hercules, Johnny 05, Roomba, Digit, Optimus, Valkyrie, Walker S1, T-HR3, Neo, Phoenix, Apollo, GR-1, H1, Figure 02, Gitai G1, Everyday Robot, π0/Physical Intelligence, Falcon 9, Rosie, Asimo, E Series, Armar, Geminoid HI-1, Albert Hubo, Philip K. Dick, Sophia, Ameca, Han, EXRobots, CB2, Telenoid, Erica, Titan, Aila, ROBOTIS Dynamixel-Y, Maxon HEJ 90-48-140, AMBIDEX, Hand Arm System, Eve, Robotiq, HRP-2, Open X-Embodiment Project, NVIDIA Project GR00T, Figure 01, Astro, Stretch. To Probe Further This story is part of IEEE Spectrum’s “Reinventing Invention” special issue, in which we highlight both the creative act and the grindingly hard engineering work required to turn an idea into something world changing. As Spectrum celebrates 60 years of publication this year, we take you behind the scenes of some awe-inspiring projects to reveal how technology is being made—and remade—in our time. For a complete picture of state-of-the-art humanoid robotics today and the companies competing to build the best bot, see this feature article by Spectrum robotics editor Evan Ackerman: “Humanoid Robots Are Getting to Work.” University of California, Berkeley, roboticist Ken Goldberg delivers an insightful TED Talk about the science and engineering challenges of bringing humanoid helpers into the real world: “Why don’t we have better robots yet?” In this excellent “Huge If True” episode, Cleo Abram reveals how Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot works, and the challenges it and other robots face to break free from their lab confines: “I Challenged Boston Dynamics’ Famous Atlas Robot.” Sci-fi robots have long captured our imaginations. Featured in this story, T-800 from “The Terminator” (1984), the android Andrew from “Bicentennial Man” (1999), Rosie from “The Jetsons” (1962–1963), and C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars” (1977) are all well known. We also feature two lesser-known but fascinating robots: the cheerful domestic bot Sunny from the Apple TV+ show “Sunny,” and the Asimo-look-alike humanoid from the comedy-drama film “Robot & Frank” (2012). For more on creepy robots, read our Uncanny Valley explainer, as well as Masahiro Mori’s original “The Uncanny Valley” essay, which Spectrum published in 2012 as the first English translation authorized by Mori, in collaboration with the IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine. Read also our profile of Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, who has created a series of lifelike robots, including an android copy of himself. Photo & Video Credits Intro iCub crawling: Alessandro Albert; Atlas HD running: Bob O’Connor; Atlas pushups: Boston Dynamics; Nadia boxing: IHMC; G1 nutcracker: Unitree Robotics; Atlas HD backflipping: Boston Dynamics; Terminator: Pictorial Press/Alamy; Florian, Hercules, Johnny 05 falling: DARPA; Atlas falling: Boston Dynamics; Helper robot with tray: Getty Images; Helper robot dusting: iStock; Bicentennial Man: Columbia Pictures/Maximum Film/Alamy; Sunny: Apple; Robot & Frank: Photo12/Alamy; Rosie: Mary Evans/AF Archive/Everett Collection; Roomba moving: iRobot New Humanoids Digit waving: Agility Robotics; Atlas HD acrobatic: Boston Dynamics; Atlas contortionist: Boston Dynamics Robot Collage Clockwise from top left: Nadia: IHMC; Valkyrie: NASA; Optimus: Tesla; Atlas: Boston Dynamics; Digit: Agility Robotics; Walker S1: UBTECH; T-HR3: Toyota; Neo: 1X Technologies; Phoenix: Sanctuary AI; Apollo: Apptronik; GR-1: Fourier; H1: Unitree Robotics; Figure 02: Figure; G1: Gitai Robot Cards Apollo: Apptronik; Atlas: Boston Dynamics; Digit: Agility Robotics; Figure 02: Figure; GR-1: Fourier; H1: Unitree Robotics; Neo: 1X Technologies; Optimus: Tesla; Phoenix: Sanctuary AI New Skills Neo backpack: 1X Technologies; Digits warehouse: Agility Robotics; Optimus dancing: Tesla; Optimus yoga: Tesla; G1 getting up: Unitree Robotics; GR-1 getting up: Fourier; Everyday Robot: Open X-Embodiment Collaboration; π0 folding clothes: Physical Intelligence; Phoenix grasping: Sanctuary AI; Phoenix sandwich: Sanctuary AI Factories First Figure 02 factory: Figure; Apollo conveyor: Apptronik; Atlas HD mess: Boston Dynamics; Falcon 9 landing: SpaceX; G1 frying pan: Unitree Robotics Robot History Roomba first model: Douglas McFadd/Getty Images; Roomba bottom view: iRobot; Roomba thick carpet: iRobot; Roomba cat: iStock; Roomba nuts: iRobot; Rosie crepes: Kurt Fuchs/CoTeSys; Rosie pretzels: Michael Memminger/CoTeSys; Asimo dreamy: Honda; E Series walking: Honda; Evolution of Asimo: Honda; Asimo demo: Honda; Asimo proud: Honda; Asimo balancing: Honda; Asimo bye: Honda; Armar with drill: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology; Neo shirt: 1X Technologies Uncanny Geminoid HI-1 and human: ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories; Creepy heads: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images; Alberto Hubo: Seung-il Ryu/Nur Photo/Getty Images. Uncanny Valley collage: Clockwise from top left: Philip K. Dick: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile for Web Summit/Getty Images; Sophia: Sopa Images/Alamy; Ameca: Johannes Simon/Getty Images; Han: Nora Tam/South China Morning Post/Getty Images; EX Robot: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images; CB2: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images; Geminoid HI-5: Osaka University; Telenoid: Osaka University and ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories; Erica: JST ERATO ISHIGURO Symbiotic Human-Robot Interaction Project. Uncanny Valley chart: Titan: Kuka; Asimo: Honda; Albert Hubo: Seung-il Ryu/Nur Photo/Getty Images; Einstein: Library of Congress Robot Hardware Aila: DFKI; Phoenix sensors: Sanctuary AI; Actuator on hand: David Mareuil/Anadolu/Getty Images; Actuator exploded: ROBOTIS; Actuator silver: Maxon; G1 x-ray: Unitree Robotics; H1 kicked: Unitree Robotics; Ambidex demo: Naver Labs; Hand Arm System: DLR Robot Software Digit 3D vision: Agility Robotics; Eve door opening: 1X Technologies; HRP-2 falling back: DARPA; G1 stick: Unitree Robotics; AI collage: Open-X Embodiment Collaboration/Google Deepmind; Optimus training: Tesla; Phoenix sandwich making: Sanctuary AI; GR00T simulation: NVIDIA; Apollo juice teleoperation: Apptronik; π0 robot foundation model: Physical Intelligence; Neo dishwasher: 1X Technologies; Figure 01 coffee maker: Figure; Digit baker: Agility Robotics Futures Eve with maker: 1X Technologies; Figure 02 fingers: Figure; Astro looking: Amazon; Astro spinning: Amazon; Astro and dog: Amazon; Atlas HD dance: Boston Dynamics; Digits with bins: Agility Robotics; Stretch stretched: Hello Robot; Stretch serving drink: Hello Robot; π0 laundry: Physical Intelligence; Stretch kitchen: Hello Robot; Stretch dogs: Hello Robot; Atlas working: Boston Dynamics; Helper robot cooking: iStock; Helper robot dishwashing and ironing: Getty Images; Three Rosies: Mary Evans/AF Archive/Everett Collection Credits Roomba: iRobot; C-3PO: Vince Bucci/Getty Images; R2-D2: Collection Christophel/Alamy