Robots
Discover robot breakthroughs and follow the human story behind a technology reshaping everyday life.
Level 1
Humanoid robots are not in our homes because robot bodies still lag far behind AI
Humanoid robots remain rare outside labs and pilot factory trials because their bodies are not yet ready for the messy,…
Level 2
videoJapanese capsule H2L lets you control a humanoid robot with simple muscle twitches
A Tokyo-based start-up called H2L has unveiled a “Capsule Interface” that turns the operator’s own body into a remote controller…
videoReachy 2: first open-source humanoid robot for object handling and human interaction
Hugging Face launches Reachy 2, the first commercially available open-source humanoid robot Hugging Face has introduced Reachy 2, a $70,000…
Touchscreen kiosks at McDonald’s did not kill jobs, they shifted work and nudged larger orders
Self service kiosks at McDonald’s were expected to replace cashiers. In practice, they changed where people work inside the restaurant.…
videoBreakthrough in robotics: artificial muscles developed for robots
Artificial muscles enable robotic leg to walk and jump autonomously Scientists at the Max Planck Institute have developed artificial muscles…
videoRobots equipped with AI can now independently perform repairs on other robots
Researchers from Stanford and DeepMind have developed the Aloha Unleashed project, where AI-powered robots are capable of autonomously performing complex…
videoBeyond the factory floor: the rise of humanoid robots and the future of work
This excerpt explores the exciting emergence of general-purpose humanoid robots like Apollo, which are designed to work alongside humans in…
Level 3
videoBoston Dynamics’ Spot robot can now unlock secure doors by itself with Assa Abloy access tech
Boston Dynamics and Assa Abloy have linked their systems so Spot, the four-legged robot, can pass through secured, automated doors…
videoVR control lets humanoid robot Nadia practice boxing to keep people out of danger
IHMC has shown its humanoid robot Nadia practicing boxing under direct human control through a virtual reality system. An engineer…
videoHestia’s robot chefs can cook, serve, and clean on their own
Hestia Technology Limited, a Hong Kong company founded in 2018, has built a fully automated kitchen that can handle every…
videoGoogle DeepMind trains robots to autonomously tie shoes and repair other robots
Google DeepMind has developed a robotic system capable of performing complex tasks such as tying shoes and repairing other robots.…
videoGoogle DeepMind uses AI to teach robots complex hand tasks like tying shoelaces
Google DeepMind presents two research systems that make robots more dexterous in the real world. The first, ALOHA Unleashed, shows…
Magnetic artificial muscle lifts 1000 times its weight and changes stiffness instantly
Engineers created a magnetic artificial muscle that lifts 1000 times its weight. It switches from soft to rigid instantly, paving the way for safer robots.