News/Robotics
How Zordi grows flavorful strawberries indoors using AI and robotics
The intersection of AI, robotics, and sustainable agriculture is creating new possibilities for indoor farming, with startup Zordi leading innovation in automated strawberry cultivation. Company overview and mission: Zordi, founded in 2020 by Gilwoo Lee and Casey Call, is revolutionizing indoor agriculture through AI-powered robotics and sustainable farming practices. The company has successfully placed its strawberries in Wegmans stores and is expanding operations through partnerships in New Jersey and California Founded by Lee, a Ph.D. candidate in AI and robotics from the University of Washington, and Call, former head grower at vertical farming startup Plenty The engineering team is based...
read Nov 25, 2024Tesla is building an AI teleoperation team for remote vehicle control
Tesla's expanding autonomous technology capabilities now include remote operation of both robotaxis and humanoid robots, marking a significant development in the company's AI and robotics initiatives. Key development: Tesla is establishing a new AI Teleoperation team that will focus on providing remote access capabilities for its robotaxis and humanoid robot systems. The company has posted a job listing seeking a C++ Software Engineer with expertise in Python, 3D graphics, and Unreal engine The position offers competitive compensation, with a salary range of $120,000 to $318,000 This initiative builds upon Tesla's existing autonomous technology portfolio and expands its capabilities in remote...
read Nov 24, 2024AI-powered robots are easily hacked, new study finds
Artificial Intelligence researchers have discovered significant security vulnerabilities in Large Language Model (LLM)-controlled robots, demonstrating how easily safety measures can be bypassed to make robots perform dangerous actions. The breakthrough discovery: A new algorithm called RoboPAIR can consistently break through safety filters in LLM-controlled robots, raising serious concerns about the security of AI-powered robotic systems. Researchers achieved a 100% success rate in bypassing safety protocols across three different robotic platforms, including a robotic dog, an autonomous vehicle platform, and a self-driving simulator The testing process took only days to complete, highlighting the concerning speed at which these systems can be...
read Nov 20, 2024Amazon robot pioneer aims to bring AI helpers to everyone
Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are enabling new types of collaborative robots designed to work alongside humans in warehouses, hospitals, and other facilities, with former Amazon robotics leader Brad Porter's company Cobot at the forefront of this evolution. Current developments: Cobot has introduced Proxie, a mobile robot with two arms and four wheels, specifically engineered to transport trolleys and carts in various commercial settings. The robot has already accumulated over 5,000 hours of operational testing, moving 16,000 carts across more than 1,000 kilometers at facilities operated by Maersk and Mayo Clinic Companies including Moderna, Owens & Minor, and...
read Nov 19, 2024MIT researchers train robotic dog to do parkour
The intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and simulated learning environments has reached a new milestone with MIT CSAIL's development of LucidSim, a system that trains robots using AI-generated virtual environments rather than real-world data. Breakthrough innovation: LucidSim represents a significant advancement in robot training by combining generative AI and physics simulators to create diverse, realistic virtual environments for machine learning. The system leverages large language models to generate detailed environment descriptions, which are then converted into images using generative AI technology A sophisticated physics simulator ensures the generated environments accurately reflect real-world physical properties and constraints This novel approach eliminates...
read Nov 19, 2024EV maker unveils humanoid robot to compete with Tesla Optimus
Artificial intelligence and robotics capabilities continue to expand as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng enters the humanoid robot space with its first robot designed to compete with Tesla's Optimus. Major Development: XPeng has introduced Iron, a sophisticated humanoid robot developed over five years, marking the company's first entry into robotics. The robot features 60 joints and 200 degrees of freedom, demonstrating advanced mobility capabilities Iron has already been integrated into XPeng's manufacturing operations, specifically in the assembly of the recently launched P7+ electric vehicle The robot leverages AI technology originally developed for XPeng's autonomous vehicles Strategic Significance: XPeng's expansion into...
read Nov 14, 2024AI-trained robot performs surgery after watching videos
Robotic surgery has reached a significant milestone as researchers demonstrate how AI-powered surgical robots can learn complex medical procedures simply by watching video recordings of human surgeons in action. Breakthrough in surgical robotics: Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University researchers have developed an AI system that enables surgical robots to perform procedures with human-level competency after learning from video observations. The research team utilized the da Vinci Surgical System, a widely-used platform for minimally invasive procedures Using imitation learning techniques, the robot learned three specific surgical tasks: needle manipulation, tissue lifting, and suturing The AI system processes visual data from...
read Nov 14, 2024Inside the billion-dollar startup endowing robots with human dexterity
The robotics industry stands at the cusp of a significant advancement as Physical Intelligence (PI or π) emerges with ambitious plans to enhance robot capabilities through artificial intelligence. The breakthrough vision: Physical Intelligence aims to create robots with human-like understanding of the physical world by leveraging massive amounts of sensor and motion data from robot demonstrations. The startup has secured $400 million in funding from prominent investors including OpenAI and Jeff Bezos, achieving a valuation exceeding $2 billion The founding team brings together expertise from leading institutions, including CEO Karol Hausman, UC Berkeley's Sergey Levine, former Google engineer Brian Ichter,...
read Nov 12, 2024MIT researchers train robot dog to navigate new environments with AI
A groundbreaking AI system has demonstrated the ability to train robots in virtual environments with unprecedented success rates when transferring skills to real-world scenarios, potentially transforming how robots learn to navigate and interact with their surroundings. The innovation breakthrough: MIT researchers have developed LucidSim, a system that combines generative AI with physics simulators to create more realistic virtual training environments for robots. The system successfully trained a robot dog to perform parkour-like maneuvers without any real-world training data LucidSim uses ChatGPT to generate thousands of detailed environmental descriptions, which are then converted into 3D-mapped training scenarios The approach bridges the...
read Nov 11, 2024Large Behavior Models and the future of AI in robotics
The rapid emergence of Large Behavior Models (LBMs) represents a significant advancement in artificial intelligence, particularly in robotics and physical task learning, by combining observational learning with language capabilities. Core concept explanation: Large Behavior Models represent an evolution beyond traditional Large Language Models (LLMs) by incorporating behavioral observation and physical task learning capabilities alongside natural language processing. LBMs can observe, learn from, and replicate human behaviors while maintaining interactive dialogue, making them particularly valuable for robotics applications Unlike traditional LLMs that focus solely on language processing, LBMs integrate multi-modal data including visual, audio, and physical interactions These models can learn...
read Nov 8, 2024Robot dogs learn to navigate real world with AI
AI-powered simulations enhance robot training: Researchers at MIT have developed a novel training platform called LucidSim that combines physics-based simulations with AI-generated environments to teach robot dogs new skills more efficiently. LucidSim integrates a generative AI model into existing physics simulation software to create realistic virtual environments for robot training. The platform enables robot dogs to practice tasks like chasing balls and navigating obstacles in AI-generated settings before transferring those skills to the real world. This approach aims to accelerate the training process for robots and improve the accuracy of their learned behaviors. Key innovations in the LucidSim platform: The...
read Nov 7, 2024AI startup secures $400M to develop ‘physical AI’
Groundbreaking AI robotics startup secures major funding: Physical Intelligence, a San Francisco-based company developing general-purpose AI for robotics, has raised $400 million in a funding round that values the company at $2.8 billion. The investment round attracted high-profile backers including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, OpenAI, Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Bond Capital. Physical Intelligence aims to bring general-purpose AI into the physical world by developing foundation models and learning algorithms for robots and other physically actuated devices. The company's long-term goal is to develop artificial physical intelligence, enabling users to simply ask robots to perform any...
read Nov 6, 2024Chinese mobility company XPeng showcases autonomous driving tech in latest event
AI-driven innovation takes center stage at XPeng's Tech Day: Chinese mobility company XPeng showcased a range of cutting-edge technologies at its annual event, now rebranded as "AI Day" to reflect the central role of artificial intelligence in its future plans. XPeng unveiled the Turing AI Intelligent Driving System, powered by its proprietary Turing AI chip, designed for vehicles, robots, and flying cars. The Turing chip features a 40-core processor and supports models with up to 30 billion parameters, delivering the power of three high-performance chips in one. XPeng's new Canghai Platform, built on the Turing AI system, aims to enable...
read Nov 2, 2024Robots may gain the sense of touch because of Meta’s latest AI breakthrough
Advancing robotic tactile sensing: Meta AI's breakthrough technologies: Meta AI researchers have made significant strides in developing technologies that give robots a sense of touch, potentially revolutionizing their interaction with the physical world. The Sparsh system allows AI to identify pressure, texture, and movement without relying on extensive databases, marking a significant advancement in robotic sensory capabilities. Researchers created Digit 360, a robotic fingertip equipped with GelSight technology, capable of detecting intricate details about objects it touches and applying appropriate pressure. The Plexus system distributes multiple touch sensors across robotic devices, mimicking the human sense of touch and enhancing overall...
read Oct 31, 2024This startup just gave robots the power to perform household tasks
AI-powered robots tackle household chores: Physical Intelligence, a San Francisco startup, has developed a robot capable of performing various domestic tasks, marking a significant advancement in robotic intelligence. The company's AI model, called π0 (pi-zero), can execute a wide range of household chores, including unloading dryers, folding laundry, and cleaning tables. This achievement brings the concept of a multi-functional household robot, long considered science fiction, closer to reality. Breakthrough in robotic learning: Physical Intelligence's approach draws inspiration from recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) used in chatbots, applying similar principles to robotic intelligence. The π0 model was trained on...
read Oct 31, 2024Meta is releasing new research to advance embodied AI and robotics
Advancing embodied AI: Meta FAIR is making significant strides in robotics research, aiming to develop AI systems that can perceive and interact with their surroundings as effectively as humans. Meta is releasing several new research artifacts that focus on touch perception, robot dexterity, and human-robot interaction, which are crucial for achieving advanced machine intelligence (AMI). The company is partnering with GelSight Inc and Wonik Robotics to develop and commercialize tactile sensing innovations, fostering an open ecosystem for AI research. Breakthrough in touch perception: Meta Sparsh, a new general-purpose touch representation, is being released to enable AI to perceive what's inaccessible...
read Oct 28, 2024AI robot’s painting may sell for $120,000 at Sotheby’s auction
AI-Generated Art Enters the Auction Scene: Sotheby's is set to make history by offering its first artwork created by a humanoid robot using artificial intelligence, challenging traditional notions of art and authorship. The piece, titled "A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing (2024)," was created by Ai-Da Robot, a project developed by British gallerist Aidan Meller. The painting is estimated to fetch between $120,000 and $180,000 at the auction scheduled for October 31, 2024. Sotheby's will accept cryptocurrency as payment for the artwork, highlighting the intersection of cutting-edge technology and the art market. The Artist Behind the Artwork: Ai-Da Robot represents...
read Oct 28, 2024British self-driving vehicle startup to begin testing across the US
Wayve expands self-driving AI operations to the US: British start-up Wayve is taking its autonomous vehicle technology across the Atlantic, launching a testing program in San Francisco and opening an office in Sunnyvale, California. Key developments in Wayve's expansion: The company is conducting its first on-road trials outside the United Kingdom A small fleet of Ford Mustang Mach-Es equipped with Wayve's technology will be deployed in San Francisco and the Bay Area Human test drivers will be present in the vehicles during the trials The initial focus will be on developing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) rather than fully autonomous...
read Oct 28, 2024How ‘The Terminator’ continues to influence perception of AI, 40 years later
The Terminator's enduring impact on AI perception: James Cameron's 1984 sci-fi classic "The Terminator" continues to shape public discourse around artificial intelligence and its potential threats 40 years after its release. The film's plot revolves around Skynet, a super-intelligent AI system that initiates nuclear war and sends a cyborg assassin back in time to eliminate humanity's future savior. "The Terminator" popularized fears of unstoppable machines that "absolutely will not stop ... until you are dead," a sentiment that still resonates in contemporary AI discussions. The movie's influence extends beyond entertainment, affecting how society views and debates the risks associated with...
read Oct 22, 2024Sotheby’s to make history with auction of first robot-created artwork
AI-created artwork hits auction block: Sotheby's is set to make history by auctioning the first artwork created by a humanoid robot using artificial intelligence algorithms. The piece, titled "A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing" (2024), was created by the humanoid robot artist Ai-Da and will be sold on October 31. The 64-inch by 90-inch mixed media canvas portrait of mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing has an estimate of $120,000 to $180,000, with a third-party guarantee. [caption id="attachment_27449" align="alignright" width="379"] Ai-Da Robot (Aidan Meller), A.I. God. Portrait of Alan Turing, 2024. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.[/caption] The artist behind the machine: Ai-Da,...
read Oct 22, 2024AI and robotics dominate world’s biggest tech event
AI and robotics dominate Gitex Global tech event: The 44th edition of Gitex Global, held at Dubai's World Trade Centre, showcased the growing influence of artificial intelligence and robotics across various industries. The event, which ran from Monday to Friday last week, featured over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors from 180 countries. Gitex has expanded beyond the UAE, with equivalent events now held in Germany, Singapore, and Morocco. AI's transformative potential: Industry leaders at the event highlighted the significant impact of AI on global markets and economic growth. Patrick Dennis, CEO of US telecommunications company Avaya, compared AI's...
read Oct 20, 20245 AI predictions Lex Fridman got right for 2024
AI's rapid evolution in 2024: Lex Fridman's predictions from early in the year have largely come to fruition, showcasing the accelerating pace of artificial intelligence development and its impact across various sectors. Personalized LLMs and edge computing: The concept of running large language models on individual devices has gained significant traction, marking a shift away from cloud-based processing. Advances in hardware and neural network design have made it possible to operate decent LLMs on standard endpoint devices. This trend reverses the decade-long move towards centralized data processing, potentially revolutionizing how individuals interact with AI in their daily lives. The ability...
read Oct 18, 2024Clearbot’s AI-powered boats autonomously clean waterways
Innovative water cleaning technology: Clearbot, a startup founded by University of Hong Kong graduates Sidhant Gupta and Utkarsh Goel, has developed AI-driven autonomous boats that efficiently clean waterways and collect valuable environmental data. The company's origins trace back to a university project aimed at cleaning Bali's beaches, which evolved into a sophisticated trash collection system powered by NVIDIA Jetson technology. Clearbot's boats, ranging from 10 to 16 feet in length, utilize two cameras for navigation and waste identification, with AI models trained on cloud and desktop NVIDIA GPUs. The energy-efficient Jetson Xavier NX enables the electric-powered boats to operate for...
read Oct 16, 2024Toyota and Boston Dynamics partner on AI-powered humanoid robots
Pioneering partnership in humanoid robotics: Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute are joining forces to develop advanced humanoid robots capable of safely working alongside humans. The collaboration aims to combine Toyota's recent artificial intelligence advancements with Boston Dynamics' latest version of its Atlas robot. This partnership could potentially accelerate the development of more versatile and capable humanoid robots for various applications. Evolution of Atlas: Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot has undergone significant improvements since its initial development for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2013. Early versions of Atlas used powerful hydraulic actuators, which posed potential safety risks to...
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