News/Robotics
LG acquires majority stake in AI service robot startup
Deal announcement: LG has acquired a controlling stake in Bear Robotics, an AI-powered service robot startup, integrating it into its existing CLOi robotics division. Transaction details: The acquisition follows LG's previous $60 million investment for a 21% stake in Bear Robotics in March, though the value of this latest controlling stake remains undisclosed. The merger combines Bear Robotics' AI-powered service robots with LG's established CLOi commercial robotics business LG previously held a minority stake of 21% in the startup The initial investment in March 2024 was valued at $60 million Strategic vision: LG's commitment to robotics development reflects its broader...
read Jan 24, 2025Why ‘Physical AI’ is lauded as the next major frontier for AI
Physical AI represents a significant advancement in artificial intelligence, combining machine learning with real-world physical interactions and control. Core concept explained: Physical AI, also known as Generative Physical AI, extends beyond traditional AI by incorporating direct interaction with and understanding of the physical world. This new approach aims to bridge the gap between AI's current text-based knowledge and the kind of intuitive physical understanding that humans develop through real-world experience Physical AI systems are being designed to control machines, robots, and other physical devices with greater sophistication and real-world awareness The technology builds upon existing generative AI capabilities while adding...
read Jan 22, 2025Physical AI merging intelligence and robotics to revolutionize real-world interactions
Physical AI represents a new frontier where digital intelligence merges with mechanical systems, enabling robots to interact intelligently with the physical world through sophisticated algorithms and precise movements. The fundamentals: Physical AI combines artificial intelligence with robotics to mimic both human intellect and physical capabilities, using neural networks that translate computational frameworks into mechanical actions. The system architecture focuses on replicating human-like decision-making, pattern recognition, and coordinated physical movements Neural networks process and convert data into mechanical actions within milliseconds Unlike traditional robots, Physical AI systems can adapt to unpredictable physical interactions and environmental variables Technical architecture: Modern Physical AI...
read Jan 22, 2025NVIDIA’s Omniverse: How OpenUSD workflows advance physical AI for robotics and vehicles
Core innovation: NVIDIA recently unveiled Cosmos, a platform of generative world foundation models designed to accelerate the development of physical AI systems through advanced simulation and synthetic data generation. The platform includes state-of-the-art models, tokenizers, guardrails, and video processing capabilities specifically built for physical AI applications Cosmos enables the creation of detailed virtual environments that incorporate real-world physics, spatial relationships, and cause-and-effect principles The technology is particularly focused on applications in robotics, autonomous vehicles, and vision AI systems Technical capabilities: When integrated with NVIDIA Omniverse and powered by OpenUSD, Cosmos creates a powerful synthetic data generation engine for AI development....
read Jan 21, 2025How AI, drones and sensor tech will help fight forest fires in the future
AI and technology companies are developing new tools to detect and combat wildfires in California, spurred by recent devastating fires in Los Angeles. Current landscape of firefighting innovation: Multiple startups and established technology companies are creating AI-powered solutions to address different aspects of wildfire management. Rain, a California startup, is developing software to enable autonomous helicopters and aircraft to detect and suppress fires more efficiently ALERTCalifornia has deployed an AI system that monitors video feeds from over 1,144 cameras across the state, helping fire departments identify fires in their early stages BurnBot is creating large vehicles equipped with propane torches...
read Jan 21, 2025Why robots are struggling to match the dexterity of human hands
The continued advancement of AI-powered robotics is bringing machines closer to matching human dexterity, though significant challenges remain in replicating the complexity of natural hand movements in particular. The complexity of human hands; The human hand contains over 30 muscles, 27 joints, and 17,000 touch receptors, enabling an extraordinary range of precise movements and sensory capabilities. The intricate network of ligaments and tendons provides 27 degrees of freedom, allowing for complex manipulations and fine motor control Even simple tasks like picking up a pen require seamless integration between sensory feedback and motor control The development of hand dexterity begins in...
read Jan 20, 2025Realbotix unveils Aria a $175000 humanoid robot
Realbotix introduces Aria, a $175,000 humanoid companion robot equipped with conversational AI and customizable personality features. Product Overview: Realbotix's Aria represents a significant development in humanoid robotics, combining artificial intelligence with realistic physical features to create a companion robot. The robot features 16 micro motors in its face for expressing emotions and uses a wheeled platform for mobility Aria's physical design prioritizes human-like appearance while clearly maintaining its robotic identity The system includes both proprietary AI and open-source large language models, with long-term memory capabilities Users can interact with Aria's AI remotely when traveling, even without the physical robot present...
read Jan 18, 2025This humanoid robot learned to waltz by mirroring human movements
A new AI system called ExBody2 enables humanoid robots to mirror human movements with unprecedented fluidity, allowing them to perform complex actions like dancing, walking, and fighting moves. Key innovation: Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have developed an AI system that helps robots learn and replicate human movements more naturally than traditional pre-programmed sequences. The system uses motion capture recordings from hundreds of human volunteers to build a comprehensive database of movements ExBody2 employs reinforcement learning to teach robots how to perform various actions through trial and error The AI first learns using complete virtual robot data...
read Jan 16, 2025These companies are seeing big returns from implementing AI agents — here’s how
Salesforce's AI agents are transforming customer service and sales operations at Baca Systems and ezCater, dramatically reducing response times and improving operational efficiency. The transformation at Baca Systems: Michigan-based robotics manufacturer Baca Systems has implemented Salesforce's Agentforce AI system, reducing customer service response times from 5-7 minutes to just 5-10 seconds. The AI system assists human representatives by quickly searching databases for relevant information about hardware-related customer inquiries The system supports preventative maintenance by identifying patterns in equipment issues AI agents serve as initial sales development representatives, managing lead outreach and qualifying prospects before human intervention ezCater's AI implementation: The...
read Jan 14, 2025NVIDIA scientist sparks outrage for suggesting the use of humanoid robots to fight fires
An Nvidia AI scientist's proposal for AI-powered firefighting robots has sparked controversy amid California wildfires and growing concerns about AI's environmental impact. Current context: Amid devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Nvidia scientist Jim Fan suggested using humanoid robots for firefighting, drawing criticism for the timing and environmental implications. Fan shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) of a humanoid robot in China, suggesting it could be deployed for firefighting The proposal came as Los Angeles faced severe wildfires, with the nearby town of Altadena experiencing significant damage Environmental concerns: Recent research from UC Riverside and Caltech highlights AI's growing environmental...
read Jan 13, 2025Real-world video data provides virtually unlimited training material for AI models
Embodied AI's ability to collect real-world data through cameras and sensors represents a fundamental shift away from reliance on internet-sourced training data. Key metrics and scale: The volume of data collected through real-world capture far exceeds traditional internet-based sources. A single camera running continuously can generate the equivalent of FineWeb's entire 15T token dataset (the largest open-source English training dataset) in just 15.6 years A network of one million cameras could generate one trillion training tokens in the time it takes to read a short article The data collection equation is straightforward: Data Scale = Number of Sensors × Time...
read Jan 12, 2025Lenovo debuts AI and robotics solutions at NRF 2025 to transform retail operations
Lenovo unveiled three new retail-focused solutions combining AI and robotics at NRF 2025 in New York City, aiming to help retailers optimize operations and enhance customer experiences. Key innovations: The technology company introduced three distinct solutions targeting different aspects of retail operations, from content management to robotic automation and AI implementation. The Retail Content Management Services platform enables stores to manage multimedia content across multiple locations in real-time A major food and beverage chain has already reported substantial cost reductions after implementing the system across more than 100 locations The solution includes both hardware and software components designed specifically for retail...
read Jan 11, 2025OpenAI launches dedicated robotics team
OpenAI is expanding beyond software development by building its first dedicated robotics team and hiring hardware specialists. Key Development: OpenAI's technical staff member Caitlin Kalinowski announced on X that the company is recruiting for its first hardware robotics positions. The company is seeking an EE sensing engineer to design sensor suites for robots A robotics mechanical design engineer position is open to work on components like gears, actuators, motors, and linkages Kalinowski, who joined OpenAI two months ago after leading AR glasses development at Meta, will head the robotics and consumer hardware initiatives Strategic Focus: The robotics team aims to...
read Jan 11, 2025NVIDIA advances AI from digital agents to physically-aware AI
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang outlined the company's vision for artificial intelligence evolution at CES 2025, highlighting the progression from basic computer vision to physical AI systems. Historical context: AI development has transformed dramatically over the past 12 years, evolving from AlexNet's basic image recognition to today's sophisticated AI systems capable of understanding multiple types of data inputs. AlexNet, launched in 2012, pioneered GPU-accelerated computer vision for large-scale image recognition Perception AI emerged as systems capable of interpreting various data types including images, audio, and sensor data Generative AI represents the current state of commercial AI applications The three scaling laws:...
read Jan 10, 2025Richtech Robotics’ advanced AI-powered humanoid robots debut at CES 2025
CES 2025 showcases advanced humanoid service robots from Richtech Robotics, marking a significant advancement in automated food and beverage service technology. Market deployment and current applications: Richtech Robotics is actively implementing their service robots in various commercial settings, with particular success in the food and beverage industry. The company's robotic solutions are currently operating in Walmart Ghost Kitchens and wine and spirits stores Their robots have expanded to 20 additional Walmart stores across Arizona, Colorado, and Texas The Adam robot has achieved a notable milestone as the first humanoid bartender robot in a major league sports venue, operating at the...
read Jan 9, 2025Why ‘World Foundation Models’ are key to unlocking Physical AI and robotics
NVIDIA has unveiled Cosmos, a new platform featuring world foundation models (WFMs) designed to advance physical AI systems through enhanced environmental simulation capabilities. The core technology: World foundation models are neural networks that can simulate physical environments and predict how scenes will evolve based on various inputs and actions. These models can generate detailed videos from text or image inputs while predicting scene evolution through a combination of current state data and control signals WFMs provide virtual 3D environments for testing AI systems without the risks and costs of real-world trials The technology enables the generation of synthetic training data,...
read Jan 7, 2025Nvidia’s ‘Cosmos’ model helps humanoid robots navigate physical environments
Nvidia unveiled Cosmos, a new AI system designed to help robots better understand and navigate physical environments through advanced simulation and training capabilities. Key announcement: Nvidia has launched Cosmos, a family of foundational AI models specifically created to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots, industrial robots, and autonomous vehicles. The system was trained using 20 million hours of human movement data, including walking patterns and hand manipulations Unlike traditional language models, Cosmos focuses on generating images and 3D models of the physical world The technology can create realistic simulations of warehouse activities and physical interactions Technical capabilities and applications: Cosmos...
read Jan 7, 2025This cool AI-powered pool cleaner just debuted at CES 2025
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra, a high-end robotic pool cleaner featuring advanced AI capabilities and smart sensors, has been announced at CES 2025 with a price tag of $3,450. Product Overview: The AquaSense 2 Ultra represents a significant advancement in automated pool cleaning technology, combining AI-powered mapping with multiple cleaning functions. The device incorporates 27 different sensors, including infrared and ultrasonic sensors, along with AI-powered cameras for comprehensive pool mapping A unique 5-in-1 cleaning system handles surface, waterline, floor, and wall cleaning, while also clarifying pool water The system is specifically designed to clean pools with complex designs and multiple...
read Jan 7, 2025Nvidia announces early access to Omniverse Sensor RTX for smarter autonomous machines
Nvidia announced early access availability of Omniverse Cloud Sensor RTX software, a new tool designed to enhance autonomous machine development through generative AI and physically accurate sensor simulation. The core technology; Omniverse Cloud Sensor RTX provides APIs that enable precise simulation of autonomous system sensors including cameras, radar, and lidar, helping developers generate extensive training datasets without real-world data collection. The software addresses the challenge of collecting diverse training data, particularly for rare or hazardous scenarios APIs integrate with existing workflows to accelerate development across autonomous vehicles and robotics Early access partners include major organizations like Accenture, Foretellix, MITRE, and...
read Jan 7, 2025Eureka’s new AI-powered robotic vacuum detects stains and self-frees from tangles
Eureka has announced its latest robotic vacuum, the J15 Max Ultra, featuring advanced liquid detection capabilities and an innovative self-cutting mechanism for dealing with tangles. Product Overview: The J15 Max Ultra represents Eureka's latest entry into the autonomous cleaning market, building upon the company's 115-year heritage in household cleaning technology. The vacuum incorporates IntelliView AI 2.0, combining infrared and FHD vision sensors to detect even transparent liquid spills A new FlexiRazor technology enables the device to cut itself free when tangled The system includes pet-friendly features, including waste avoidance and remote video interaction capabilities The vacuum delivers 22,000 Pa of...
read Jan 6, 2025John Deere offers glimpse of new autonomous farm machine lineup at CES
John Deere has unveiled a new lineup of autonomous machines at CES 2025, expanding its self-driving technology across agricultural, construction, and landscaping equipment to address critical labor shortages. Industry challenges: The agricultural, construction, and landscaping sectors are facing severe workforce constraints that threaten operational sustainability. The average U.S. farmer is over 58 years old and typically works 12-18 hours per day, highlighting the pressing need for automation The farming sector needs to fill 2.4 million jobs annually to maintain operations Construction contractors are experiencing an 80% shortage in skilled labor positions A staggering 86% of landscaping business owners report difficulties...
read Jan 6, 2025Samsung says its AI-powered in-home robot ‘Ballie’ will actually launch this year
Samsung's CES 2025 announcements included more information on Ballie, its spherical AI-powered home robot, expected to launch in the first half of 2025. Key features and capabilities: Ballie combines mobility, voice interaction, and projection technology to serve as an interactive home assistant. The robot can project information and entertainment content onto floors and walls, automatically adjusting its position and projection surface based on content needs Users can control Ballie through voice commands and by stepping on virtual buttons it projects onto the floor The device includes visual AI capabilities for tasks like wine pairing recommendations Ballie can integrate with smart...
read Jan 6, 2025MIT breakthrough gives robots ability to design, 3D print and understand physical environments
MIT's AI Lab Director Daniela Rus outlines how artificial intelligence is poised to make significant advances in physical world applications through the development of "physical intelligence" in 2025. The emerging frontier: Physical intelligence represents a fusion of digital AI capabilities with robotics, designed to help machines understand and interact with the real world in ways current AI systems cannot. Traditional AI models excel at generating digital content but struggle with real-world applications like self-driving cars due to their lack of physical understanding Physical intelligence systems are specifically designed to understand physics, cause-and-effect relationships, and adapt to dynamic environments This new...
read Jan 6, 2025Lymow launches AI-powered robot lawnmower at CES 2025
The Lymow One, unveiled at CES 2025, introduces a new category of smart robotic lawn mowers, featuring tracked treads and mulching capabilities designed to handle challenging terrain and conditions. Core innovation; The Lymow One combines dual mulching blades with tracked propulsion and advanced navigation systems to deliver expanded coverage and improved performance over traditional robotic mowers. The mower's LyCut system employs two high-speed mulching blades spinning at 6000 RPM, powered by a 1200-watt motor A 16-inch cutting width and adjustable height range of 1.2 to 4 inches enables versatile lawn maintenance The integrated centrifugal fan system enhances mulching effectiveness across...
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