Next release there will be HUGE NEWS regarding my newsletter. So stay tuned! 🚨
But right now… Have a great read about recent robotics development!
a robot telling you to keep reading the newsletter! 🗞️ [generated by AI]
A humanoid from NASA with a magic hand 🦾
The Valkyrie robot, developed by NASA, stands at an impressive 1.8 meters in height and weighs 125 kg. What makes it even cooler is its bionic hand that boosts its dexterity. The robot is equipped with a hand from PSYONIC, which makes it possible to manipulate objects thanks to its dexterity.
This robot is like a human and can perform challenging tasks on both Earth and in space. NASA's big plan with Valkyrie is to make it work on its own, without human control, so that astronauts can focus on more complex missions.
They even have exciting plans to send Valkyrie to the Moon for extended missions, and it will continue to work there, even when astronauts are not present. Remote teleoperation plays a key role here. It's all part of NASA's mission to explore and inhabit the Moon.
Outdoor omniwheels robot for pallets 📦
O³dyn, an innovative robotic creation by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics, brings a new level of versatility and power to the world of material handling. With its combination of omnidirectional Mecanum wheels and air suspension, this autonomous pallet jack can perform indoors and outdoors, offering exceptional speed of up to 36 km/h using LiDAR, GPS, and 3D camera systems for navigation.
O³dyn's unique design allows it to wrap around pallets, skillfully lift and transport them, and maneuver in tight spaces, thanks to its ability to move in any direction while facing any direction. Currently, in prototype form with an aluminum frame, it boasts a load capacity of 350 kg, but future production models are expected to handle up to 1,300 kg without the need for extensive motor or drive system upgrades.
To enhance safety, O³dyn comes equipped with an emergency brake system to respond swiftly to unexpected obstacles in its path, ensuring the protection of your cargo and workspace.
Meme of the week 🤖
Looks like farmers are happy to have robots around!
This robot tour guide can speak! 🔊
The team from Boston Dynamics behind this project was impressed by the rapid progress in AI and wanted to see how it could be applied to robotics. They used Foundation Models to create a robot tour guide, which could walk around, describe objects, answer questions, and make decisions in real time. The key to this project was the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, which can generate text and act like improv actors, making the robot's interactions entertaining and interactive.
They added audio capabilities to the robot, allowing it to speak to the audience and listen to their questions. The robot was controlled by an offboard computer that communicated with it through the SDK. The software part of this project involved using LLMs, such as ChatGPT, to give the robot conversational skills.
They prompted the LLM to provide responses as if it were writing code, and the LLM had access to a map of the tour site and could generate phrases and answer questions.
In summary, this project demonstrated how robots, like the one they used, can chat with people using advanced AI models, making them capable tour guides that can interact with audiences in a nuanced and entertaining way.
Same-day delivery drones from Amazon 🥏
Amazon is making its Prime Air drone delivery service bigger. It's not just in the United States anymore. They are now starting it in Italy and the UK. Before this, they did tests in the US in places like College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California. Now, they can deliver packages that weigh up to five pounds in less than an hour.
One of their new drones called the MK30, is a big deal. It's quieter, smaller, and better than the drones they used before. It can fly longer distances and handle different kinds of weather because it has special technology to sense and avoid things in its way. Soon, they will send these drones from some of their Same-Day Delivery sites, starting with specific places in Italy and the UK.
Amazon's big plan is to make drones a key part of their delivery system, working together with regular delivery trucks. Amazon's expansion is a big step in changing how packages are delivered. It's good for the economy, gives more choices to customers, and helps protect the environment.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS
Robotic technology for construction sites! 🏗️
Introducing the remarkable Hadrian X bricklaying robot! This innovative Australian creation rolls up to a construction site, appearing like an ordinary truck. With its 105-foot boom arm, it skillfully lays up to 300 large masonry blocks in just one hour, making it 20 times faster than human bricklayers.
In 2023, FBR is taking this cutting-edge technology commercially, and the robot has already set a speed record, laying over 300 masonry blocks an hour. Imagine this machine covering about 753 square feet of vertical wall in just 60 minutes – that's almost a quarter of a tennis court.
The Hadrian X operates precisely according to CAD plans, and its adhesive-based construction technique dries in a mere 45 minutes. With its ability to construct three-story buildings from street level and work 24/7 in various weather conditions, this robot is undoubtedly the future of construction. Although it might have some initial accuracy challenges, FBR is continually improving this next-gen marvel for even better results.
