Shocking AI Robots That Could Replace Us Unveiled at the 2024 World Robot Conference

High tech & Ai world

At the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing, groundbreaking AI powered humanoid robots showcased advanced capabilities like human like interaction, industrial,efficiency and complex skill acquisitions.

Transcript

00:00So let's talk about robots, specifically humanoid robots powered by AI, and explore

00:09all the exciting developments that were showcased at the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing.

00:15And trust me, there is a lot to unpack from this event.

00:18We're talking game-changing innovations, cutting-edge technology, and the latest in

00:22AI advancements.

00:23So let's get into it.

00:25All right, so first, let's set the stage.

00:28The World Robot Conference is kind of a big deal in the tech world.

00:31Think of it as the Oscars for robotics.

00:34It takes place every year in Beijing, and it's where the latest and greatest in robotic

00:38technology is put on display.

00:40This year, the conference was bigger and better than ever, attracting 169 exhibitors from

00:45all over the globe, showing off more than 600 innovative products.

00:50And here's the kicker.

00:51There were a record-high 27 humanoid robots featured this year.

00:55Yeah, humanoid robots are becoming a major focal point in the robotics field, and the

00:59hype is real.

01:00So why all the buzz around humanoid robots?

01:03Well, there's a growing interest in how AI can be integrated into robots that look

01:07and move like humans.

01:09These aren't standard robots that you might see in factories.

01:12These are androids designed to interact with us in a more natural, human-like way.

01:16The idea is that these robots could eventually perform tasks just like, or even better than,

01:22humans.

01:23But it's not just about replacing humans.

01:25It's about collaborating with us, especially in environments that are dangerous or require

01:30heavy labor.

01:31A great example from the conference is the Unitry G1.

01:34This is a two-legged humanoid robot standing about 1.3 meters tall and weighing around

01:3935 kilograms.

01:40It's sleek, it looks futuristic, and it's packed with some pretty advanced tech.

01:45The Unitry G1 can move at a speed of 2 meters per second and has advanced three-finger force

01:49control hands, which means it can handle objects delicately and precisely.

01:54It's also got a maximum knee-joint torque of 120 newton-meters, so it's pretty strong

01:59for its size.

02:00What really sets the Unitry G1 apart is its Robot Unified Large Model, which is a fancy

02:06way of saying that it has a robust AI system that allows it to learn and refine its skills

02:11continuously.

02:12This model was launched this year, and it's already making waves.

02:15Priced at around 99,000 yuan, or about 13,874 US dollars, it's actually quite affordable

02:22considering its advanced capabilities.

02:24According to Huang Jiawei, the marketing director at Unitry, this robot isn't just designed

02:28to look impressive, it's built to be highly functional in a variety of practical applications.

02:33That's why it's already being adopted by numerous labs and companies.

02:37Now, at the conference, Shenzhen-based Ubitech Robotics showed off some of their robots that

02:42are currently deployed on automotive production lines.

02:45These robots aren't just for show, they are doing real work, intelligent transportation,

02:50quality inspection, and even handling chemicals.

02:53It's a big step forward for the large-scale application of humanoid robots in manufacturing.

02:59According to Greg Gee, the lead on Ubitech's humanoid robot motion control algorithm team,

03:04their robots currently operate at about 20% of human efficiency.

03:07Now, that might not sound super impressive at first, but here's the thing.

03:11They expect to reach nearly 100% efficiency within the next 1-2 years.

03:15And remember, robots can work 24-7 without breaks.

03:19This means their overall efficiency could soon surpass that of human workers.

03:23The integration of AI models has accelerated the development of humanoid robots.

03:27As Gee mentioned, we're looking at a future where robots and humans are going to be working

03:32side-by-side more often, especially in environments that are risky or involve heavy-duty tasks.

03:38Essentially, robots that can help you with heavy lifting or perform tasks that are too

03:42dangerous for humans.

03:43That's the direction we're heading in, and it's pretty exciting.

03:47Another standout from the conference was the Tiangong, an embodied AI robot.

03:52Now, what do they mean by embodied AI?

03:54Simply put, it's AI with a physical form, an AI that doesn't just exist in the cloud

03:59or on a server somewhere, but is integrated into a robot that can interact with the physical

04:04world.

04:05The Tiangong was a big hit at the event because it showcased some pretty advanced capabilities.

04:10It could engage in conversations, respond to voice commands, and even grasp and place

04:15objects in designated spots.

04:17Qi Jiping, the team leader from the Beijing Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics

04:21Innovation Center, explained that embodied AI helps bridge the gap between the digital

04:26and physical worlds.

04:27Just think about it, an AI that can move around on its own and interact intelligently with

04:32its surroundings opens up a whole new realm of possibilities.

04:35Imagine heading to a concert, and a humanoid robot guides you to your seat, fetches your

04:40favorite snack, or even helps you navigate through the crowd.

04:43That's the kind of future embodied AI is aiming for, and the Tiangong robot is a big

04:47step in making that vision a reality.

04:50Other impressive presentations at the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing included

04:54a Tencent's four-legged robot dog.

04:56Now, if you've ever seen a robot dog before, you might think, okay, big deal.

05:01But this one's on a whole different level.

05:03It doesn't just walk.

05:04It can run, jump, and even perform backwards somersaults.

05:08It's super agile and could go places a human or even a regular robot couldn't reach.

05:13Then we got Alibaba's new Logistics robot.

05:15Now Logistics might not sound super exciting at first, but this robot is designed for last

05:20mile delivery, which is a huge challenge in the e-commerce world.

05:24It's like your own little autonomous delivery guy that can navigate complex urban environments

05:30without any human intervention.

05:32Then, there was a robot that totally captivated the audience, a robot that can play the Chinese

05:37dulcimer.

05:38And not just playing like a simple tune, it learned to play this complex instrument in

05:42just two to three days, which is insane.

05:45This kind of skill acquisition shows just how far AI learning has come.

05:55Next up, we've got a robot that really blurs the lines between human and machine.

05:59A humanoid robot that mimics human facial expressions in real time.

06:03It's designed to look like a young man and can perfectly replicate its partner's facial

06:07expressions.

06:08Now we can't forget about the medical sector.

06:10There were several presentations featuring advanced medical robots that are designed

06:15for surgical precision.

06:16Using AI to assist with surgeries can greatly reduce the margin for human error and improve

06:22outcomes for patients.

06:24Agriculture also got some love at the conference with robots designed for the field.

06:28Literally.

06:29Agricultural robots are capable of tasks like planting, weeding, and harvesting, which could

06:34majorly cut down labor costs and boost efficiency on farms.

06:37We're talking about robots that could help address food security by optimizing farming

06:42processes.

06:43Now, this next one's pretty interesting.

06:44Wissen Technologies showed off their innovative pliable robotic arms.

06:48Instead of the usual motors, these arms use 3D printed plastics and pneumatic artificial

06:53muscles, making them way cheaper to produce.

06:56This could make one-tenth the cost of traditional robotic arms.

06:59This could make high-quality robotic tech accessible to a lot more industries.

07:03And then there's the Walker S-Lite robot from Ubitech Robotics.

07:07This one's an industrial humanoid robot that's already at work in car factories.

07:11It's helping with everything from quality testing to sorting parts, working right alongside

07:15human workers to improve efficiency on the production line.

07:19And lastly, we saw the debut of the Robot Blue Book, an extensive report that dives

07:24deep into the Chinese robotics industry and its potential.

07:27It's kind of like a roadmap for the future of robotics, outlining development trends

07:31and opportunities.

07:32For anyone interested in the business side of robotics, this is a must-read.

07:35Now, while there are some incredible advancements, there are still challenges to overcome in

07:39the robotics industry.

07:40For instance, at the conference, Yigang, founder of Shanghai-based T5 Robot, highlighted some

07:45of the problems in the current robotics supply chain.

07:48Product reliability is actually one of the biggest issues.

07:50Due to high defect rates, companies like his can only produce up to 1,000 units at

07:55a time.

07:56And let's not forget about the key components like harmonic gears, which are crucial for

08:00motion control in robots but still face quality and reliability issues.

08:04Also, Wissen Technology, another player in the robotics field, is doing something pretty

08:09unique.

08:10They're using 3D-printed plastics and pneumatic artificial muscles instead of the traditional

08:14motors and reducers for their robotic arms.

08:17This makes their robots much cheaper to produce.

08:19About one-tenth the cost of traditional robotic arms, which could be a game-changer for affordability

08:24in the industry.

08:25According to Chow Wei from Lanqi Ventures, who has invested in Wissen, these pliable

08:30robotic arms could potentially be used in humanoid robots in the future.

08:34But in any case, China is pushing hard to become a global leader in this field.

08:38As mentioned by Marina Bill, president of the International Federation of Robotics,

08:43China's manufacturing capabilities and supply chain strength are really tough to match,

08:47even for some of the most developed countries.

08:50There's also a big focus on developing new productive forces in technology.

08:55As Premier Li Qiang highlighted, the robot industry has broad prospects and massive market potential.

09:02The government is calling for efforts to promote the expansion and popularization of robots

09:06across various fields, industry, agriculture, and even services.

09:10Essentially, AI has ushered in the iPhone moment for humanoid robots.

09:15Think about it.

09:16To make the iPhone revolutionize the smartphone industry, AI is set to revolutionize robotics.

09:21We're getting closer than ever to making the dream of fully integrated humanoid robots

09:25a reality.

09:26The plan is to establish a production capacity of over 10,000 embodied AI robots by the end

09:31of 2026, according to Kong Lei from the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area Administrative

09:36Committee.

09:37That's a pretty ambitious goal.

09:38But given the rapid pace of development we're seeing, it seems totally possible.

09:42All right.

09:43If you found this video helpful, smash that like button, hit subscribe, and stay tuned

09:47for more updates on the latest in AI tech.

09:49Thanks for watching, and I'll catch you in the next one.

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