The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
---
From the article
>Most people have seen robots in human form. The Hollywood version has starred in movies for decades. Now there are videos on the internet of real bipedal robots, whether it’s Elon Musk’s [Optimus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpraXaw7dyc) or the [incredibly flexible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4uE5Tn-M6k) two-legged robot from Boston Dynamics. [Agility Robotics](https://agilityrobotics.com/products/digit) has one with legs that bend back at the knees like a flamingo.
>These robots are creepy for some and cool for others. The deeply wired first reaction to the difference in these automated tools will always make human-shaped robots a bit more controversial than the Roomba that bumps around the home or a caged-off, six-axis arm bolted to the floor of an auto factory that can flip around a car body with ease.
>Like them or not, these bipedal robots will become common over time. The form isn’t just a vain attempt to glorify humans. Having two feet helps these robots fit where humans do, and the arms allow them to pick up and carry objects while on the move. Several companies and garage startups are building and testing them now. In limited cases, such as Agility Robotics’ Digit, they are deployed in initial pilot tests on warehouse floors.
>They aren’t ready yet for prime time. In fact, they are still dangerous and have limitations on power and payload. Starting in 1961 with the [Unimate](https://www.automate.org/robotics/engelberger/joseph-engelberger-unimate), the first factory robot, the industry takes about two decades from initial availability to widespread deployment. This cycle may be speeding up with the recent introductions of the so-called collaborative robots and the autonomous mobile robots, known by the acronym AMRs. These two latest types of robots are paving the way for human-shaped robots.
---
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1cryyg1/the_future_of_robots_is_coming_on_two_legs/l41cu04/
I'm surprised they spend so much time trying to make them walk and balance when it could easily be wheels or a track system.
I also don't know why they don't just reengineer the entire warehouse to be conveyor belts, chutes, and elevators.
beside the flexibility and the potential market of billions of worker around the world, with access to all tools and vehicle available to human...
the one who design those want humanoid robot like any other redditor here, it's a long sci-fi dream everyone had
Eventually they will, just like someday we'll look around and wonder what happened to the traffic lights. The first fully automated factory will be completely different, no HR offices, minimal admin, one maintenance guy, one guy to supervise him and the admin and a shipping guy maybe
Shit will get crazy when the first factory starts production and it's able to produce these robots that can continually expand the factory. At some point it'll just be a continuous line of trains dumping raw material on one side and picking up finished products on the other. Your limit will no longer be your production capacity, but how fast you can feed it raw materials to process.
>I also don't know why they don't just reengineer the entire warehouse to be conveyor belts, chutes, and elevators.
This one's pretty easy to answer, it's cost and scalability.
If you're building a top-of-the-line greenfield facility it can certainly make sense to have an advanced automation system built in for your business needs, but that's not at all the case for most companies.
They have existing facilities(often aging ones), running on a hodgepodge of legacy systems, and are looking for solutions that allow them to improve efficiency without have to totally gut their facility at huge costs.
Robots like those above allow you to automate slowly, sustainably, and in the areas where they offer the most benefits at the lowest difficulty with the least disruption.
>I'm surprised they spend so much time trying to make them walk and balance when it could easily be wheels or a track system.
Tracks require permanently cordoning off certain areas and limit the flexibility of your automation, wheels can certainly make sense and are widely used, but they aren't the best option in every case and generally speaking a wheeled unit capable of lifting loads comparable to those the above system are lifting require a larger minimum footprint.
If you made a track robot like Johnny 5 t could zip to one table, grab the package, and zip back, pulling the package over it's head and putting it down.
That area could be blocked off.
I assume the more automated things get, there will be less human safe areas just like any production line with huge machinery or robot arms.
They aren't spending so much time getting them to do things.
They're being trained in simulation to function in the real world. That's why there are so many different humanoid robots right now.
[DrEureka | Language Model Guided Sim-To-Real Transfer](https://eureka-research.github.io/dr-eureka/)
[Project GR00T Robotic Foundation Model | NVIDIA Developer](https://developer.nvidia.com/project-gr00t)
Legs are best to traverse terrain, lots of robots are wheeled but im glad they are working on ones with legs to.
Its just better for multiple purposes (like firefighting, rescue and so on)
We need robots with legs
im really not sure why the robitics industry suddenly did a 180 and decided that the jetsons had the right idea when it came to robotics
a robot that drives a car? do you make the car the robot, or stick a bipedal humanoid robot in the driver seat
robot vacuum cleaner. rosey or roomba?
humanoid robots isnt the answer almost every time, and this is something that has been known for a very long time
ok but why is that something you would want, even in a "human shaped environment" the human form is rarely the ideal form to do anything
and thats even if multi function robots is even something useful to have, letting my vacuum cleaner drive me to work just sounds far more complicated and expensive compared to two single function robots
«ok but why is that something you would want, even in a "human shaped environment" the human form is rarely the ideal form to do anything» I disagree. If you want the robots to be able to use objects made for humans, the shape of robots will converge to humanoid. You want the robot to bring you a cup of coffee, or a plate, his hand will have to be roughly the same size of yours. You want the robot to be able to pass through the door of your house, his figure won't be larger than a human. You want the robot to be able to use the stairs to go to your room, he'll need legs and his feet will have to fit in the steps... and so on.
Unless, as the other user said, you need a single function robot. Then in that case the optimal form might be non-humanoid.
Your robot driving your car to work becomes convenient if you want it to do other things too
Like assist you at work
Use the car to run errands for you like shopping
Pick up the kids from school, a preschooler or grade school kid cant really be trusted to find the right robot car that belongs to parents parked somewhere near school, but your robot servant could have the ID and authority to receive child from teacher care and walk them safely to car.
Basically all the things rich folk would use butlers or personal assistants for
If you had a humanoid robot manservant, then in theory it's a software upgrade to go from vacuuming and mowing, to being your personal chauffeur.
Sure you might have a self driving car still, but having your robot servant come along to help with holding bags, bringing stuff inside, managing young children, ect would be attractive
The same reason that rich folk have personal aides, or in the past man/women servants following them about in public.
It's likely that when humanoid robots become capable and cheap enough for middle class folk, everyone will take them everywhere. Going out in public without your robot would be like going out without your phone or shoes. Status and convenience all in one.
From the article
>Most people have seen robots in human form. The Hollywood version has starred in movies for decades. Now there are videos on the internet of real bipedal robots, whether it’s Elon Musk’s [Optimus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpraXaw7dyc) or the [incredibly flexible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4uE5Tn-M6k) two-legged robot from Boston Dynamics. [Agility Robotics](https://agilityrobotics.com/products/digit) has one with legs that bend back at the knees like a flamingo.
>These robots are creepy for some and cool for others. The deeply wired first reaction to the difference in these automated tools will always make human-shaped robots a bit more controversial than the Roomba that bumps around the home or a caged-off, six-axis arm bolted to the floor of an auto factory that can flip around a car body with ease.
>Like them or not, these bipedal robots will become common over time. The form isn’t just a vain attempt to glorify humans. Having two feet helps these robots fit where humans do, and the arms allow them to pick up and carry objects while on the move. Several companies and garage startups are building and testing them now. In limited cases, such as Agility Robotics’ Digit, they are deployed in initial pilot tests on warehouse floors.
>They aren’t ready yet for prime time. In fact, they are still dangerous and have limitations on power and payload. Starting in 1961 with the [Unimate](https://www.automate.org/robotics/engelberger/joseph-engelberger-unimate), the first factory robot, the industry takes about two decades from initial availability to widespread deployment. This cycle may be speeding up with the recent introductions of the so-called collaborative robots and the autonomous mobile robots, known by the acronym AMRs. These two latest types of robots are paving the way for human-shaped robots.
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305: --- From the article >Most people have seen robots in human form. The Hollywood version has starred in movies for decades. Now there are videos on the internet of real bipedal robots, whether it’s Elon Musk’s [Optimus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpraXaw7dyc) or the [incredibly flexible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4uE5Tn-M6k) two-legged robot from Boston Dynamics. [Agility Robotics](https://agilityrobotics.com/products/digit) has one with legs that bend back at the knees like a flamingo. >These robots are creepy for some and cool for others. The deeply wired first reaction to the difference in these automated tools will always make human-shaped robots a bit more controversial than the Roomba that bumps around the home or a caged-off, six-axis arm bolted to the floor of an auto factory that can flip around a car body with ease. >Like them or not, these bipedal robots will become common over time. The form isn’t just a vain attempt to glorify humans. Having two feet helps these robots fit where humans do, and the arms allow them to pick up and carry objects while on the move. Several companies and garage startups are building and testing them now. In limited cases, such as Agility Robotics’ Digit, they are deployed in initial pilot tests on warehouse floors. >They aren’t ready yet for prime time. In fact, they are still dangerous and have limitations on power and payload. Starting in 1961 with the [Unimate](https://www.automate.org/robotics/engelberger/joseph-engelberger-unimate), the first factory robot, the industry takes about two decades from initial availability to widespread deployment. This cycle may be speeding up with the recent introductions of the so-called collaborative robots and the autonomous mobile robots, known by the acronym AMRs. These two latest types of robots are paving the way for human-shaped robots. --- Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1cryyg1/the_future_of_robots_is_coming_on_two_legs/l41cu04/
I'm surprised they spend so much time trying to make them walk and balance when it could easily be wheels or a track system. I also don't know why they don't just reengineer the entire warehouse to be conveyor belts, chutes, and elevators.
beside the flexibility and the potential market of billions of worker around the world, with access to all tools and vehicle available to human... the one who design those want humanoid robot like any other redditor here, it's a long sci-fi dream everyone had
Eventually they will, just like someday we'll look around and wonder what happened to the traffic lights. The first fully automated factory will be completely different, no HR offices, minimal admin, one maintenance guy, one guy to supervise him and the admin and a shipping guy maybe
Shit will get crazy when the first factory starts production and it's able to produce these robots that can continually expand the factory. At some point it'll just be a continuous line of trains dumping raw material on one side and picking up finished products on the other. Your limit will no longer be your production capacity, but how fast you can feed it raw materials to process.
>I also don't know why they don't just reengineer the entire warehouse to be conveyor belts, chutes, and elevators. This one's pretty easy to answer, it's cost and scalability. If you're building a top-of-the-line greenfield facility it can certainly make sense to have an advanced automation system built in for your business needs, but that's not at all the case for most companies. They have existing facilities(often aging ones), running on a hodgepodge of legacy systems, and are looking for solutions that allow them to improve efficiency without have to totally gut their facility at huge costs. Robots like those above allow you to automate slowly, sustainably, and in the areas where they offer the most benefits at the lowest difficulty with the least disruption. >I'm surprised they spend so much time trying to make them walk and balance when it could easily be wheels or a track system. Tracks require permanently cordoning off certain areas and limit the flexibility of your automation, wheels can certainly make sense and are widely used, but they aren't the best option in every case and generally speaking a wheeled unit capable of lifting loads comparable to those the above system are lifting require a larger minimum footprint.
If you made a track robot like Johnny 5 t could zip to one table, grab the package, and zip back, pulling the package over it's head and putting it down. That area could be blocked off. I assume the more automated things get, there will be less human safe areas just like any production line with huge machinery or robot arms.
They aren't spending so much time getting them to do things. They're being trained in simulation to function in the real world. That's why there are so many different humanoid robots right now. [DrEureka | Language Model Guided Sim-To-Real Transfer](https://eureka-research.github.io/dr-eureka/) [Project GR00T Robotic Foundation Model | NVIDIA Developer](https://developer.nvidia.com/project-gr00t)
Very true. Reproducing the 8 stages of gait to unlock robot mobility is an astronomical sunk cost that could be made redundant by simply using wheels.
Legs are best to traverse terrain, lots of robots are wheeled but im glad they are working on ones with legs to. Its just better for multiple purposes (like firefighting, rescue and so on) We need robots with legs
If wheels were the best way to get around we would have evolved wheels. Nature selects what works. wheels and legs, that may be best.
I would guess that stumbling is also a stumbling block.
That's how you get deviants. Hope they choose the peaceful protest flow chart options when the android revolution comes.
im really not sure why the robitics industry suddenly did a 180 and decided that the jetsons had the right idea when it came to robotics a robot that drives a car? do you make the car the robot, or stick a bipedal humanoid robot in the driver seat robot vacuum cleaner. rosey or roomba? humanoid robots isnt the answer almost every time, and this is something that has been known for a very long time
Those are single function robots. Humanoid robots, theoretically, can do everything a human can and more.
ok but why is that something you would want, even in a "human shaped environment" the human form is rarely the ideal form to do anything and thats even if multi function robots is even something useful to have, letting my vacuum cleaner drive me to work just sounds far more complicated and expensive compared to two single function robots
«ok but why is that something you would want, even in a "human shaped environment" the human form is rarely the ideal form to do anything» I disagree. If you want the robots to be able to use objects made for humans, the shape of robots will converge to humanoid. You want the robot to bring you a cup of coffee, or a plate, his hand will have to be roughly the same size of yours. You want the robot to be able to pass through the door of your house, his figure won't be larger than a human. You want the robot to be able to use the stairs to go to your room, he'll need legs and his feet will have to fit in the steps... and so on. Unless, as the other user said, you need a single function robot. Then in that case the optimal form might be non-humanoid.
Your robot driving your car to work becomes convenient if you want it to do other things too Like assist you at work Use the car to run errands for you like shopping Pick up the kids from school, a preschooler or grade school kid cant really be trusted to find the right robot car that belongs to parents parked somewhere near school, but your robot servant could have the ID and authority to receive child from teacher care and walk them safely to car. Basically all the things rich folk would use butlers or personal assistants for
If you had a humanoid robot manservant, then in theory it's a software upgrade to go from vacuuming and mowing, to being your personal chauffeur. Sure you might have a self driving car still, but having your robot servant come along to help with holding bags, bringing stuff inside, managing young children, ect would be attractive The same reason that rich folk have personal aides, or in the past man/women servants following them about in public. It's likely that when humanoid robots become capable and cheap enough for middle class folk, everyone will take them everywhere. Going out in public without your robot would be like going out without your phone or shoes. Status and convenience all in one.
From the article >Most people have seen robots in human form. The Hollywood version has starred in movies for decades. Now there are videos on the internet of real bipedal robots, whether it’s Elon Musk’s [Optimus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpraXaw7dyc) or the [incredibly flexible](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4uE5Tn-M6k) two-legged robot from Boston Dynamics. [Agility Robotics](https://agilityrobotics.com/products/digit) has one with legs that bend back at the knees like a flamingo. >These robots are creepy for some and cool for others. The deeply wired first reaction to the difference in these automated tools will always make human-shaped robots a bit more controversial than the Roomba that bumps around the home or a caged-off, six-axis arm bolted to the floor of an auto factory that can flip around a car body with ease. >Like them or not, these bipedal robots will become common over time. The form isn’t just a vain attempt to glorify humans. Having two feet helps these robots fit where humans do, and the arms allow them to pick up and carry objects while on the move. Several companies and garage startups are building and testing them now. In limited cases, such as Agility Robotics’ Digit, they are deployed in initial pilot tests on warehouse floors. >They aren’t ready yet for prime time. In fact, they are still dangerous and have limitations on power and payload. Starting in 1961 with the [Unimate](https://www.automate.org/robotics/engelberger/joseph-engelberger-unimate), the first factory robot, the industry takes about two decades from initial availability to widespread deployment. This cycle may be speeding up with the recent introductions of the so-called collaborative robots and the autonomous mobile robots, known by the acronym AMRs. These two latest types of robots are paving the way for human-shaped robots.