In May of this 12 months, RockedBuzz revealed a bit titled “Figure’s humanoid robot takes its first steps.” The story was a firsthand account of my go to to the startup’s South Bay workplaces. The title referenced each the firm’s first 12 months of existence and its said plan to succeed in a key milestone by its first birthday.
Image credit: Figure
THE agency he later confirmed to me that he had, in reality, succeeded in making his humanoid robot stroll. I requested for video proof, which Figure has refused to ship, till now. Among different issues, it is clear that the firm needs to have a movie crew to seize bipedal locomotion. I are inclined to want uncooked lab movies for issues like this, however that is in all probability one of the many the reason why nobody asks me to do advertising and marketing for his or her robotics firm.
Two issues instantly leap out at me: First, it is good to see a non-render from the firm. So far, their artwork has been restricted to mockups of what the robot may appear to be. Watching this footage reminds us that there are a lot of steps alongside the path to that futuristic piece of product artwork. Second, you have in all probability observed that the robot strikes with its knees bent, fairly than the totally upright movement we see in people.
Bent knees, on the different hand, are fairly commonplace in robots—you have seen it with Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and Agility’s Digit (although the latter has a reverse, ostrich-like bend). Bending offers you higher management of steadiness and different essential components. Ultimately there is a query of how essential it’s to undertake a extra human-like gait, however clearly this primary video of the Figure 01 robot strolling is at a really early stage. There are loads of kinks to work out between now and the transport date.
The different factor I’ll draw your consideration to are the arms. Mobile manipulation stays a key situation in this world, and plenty of humanoid programs like Apptronik’s Digit and Apollo have but so as to add articulated graspers. Of course, there’s nothing in this video to recommend that the calipers are at present purposeful. During my go to to the firm’s headquarters, nonetheless, they confirmed me an element of the workplace devoted to creating what seemed to be a five-figure, human-style hand.
The video notes that Figure’s employees at the time of filming (10/1) was 60 individuals. Impressive development for one 12 months. More updates quickly, little question.
