One of the most notable trends of this year has been the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into robotics, allowing machines to process information and make decisions in real time.
Earlier this year, AIM had predicted continued breakthroughs and advancements in robotics, and that is precisely what has unfolded!
Robotics expert and co-founder of iRobot and Robust.ai, Rodney Brooks, has cautioned that the current hype over AI is poised for a brutal reality check. Inferencing from AI’s history of over 60 years, Brooks pointed out that the industry has a tendency to follow a typical hype cycle, which soon witnesses a lull. While the hype is yet to fade, advancements in robotics have continued to remain on an upward trajectory.
To help build a mind map of these advancements, AIM has put together this article highlighting the most significant achievements of the year.
Physical Intelligence Raises $400 Million, Backed by Jeff Bezos
Physical Intelligence, a robotics AI startup, announced it has raised $400 million in a funding round led by Amazon’s executive chairman Jeff Bezos.
Founded this year, Physical Intelligence’s mission is to bring general-purpose AI into the physical world. The company has developed a general-purpose robotic foundation model, π0 (pi-zero), as a first step toward its long-term goal of developing artificial physical intelligence.
While the company is led by co-founder and CEO Karol Hausman, a former Google robotics scientist, its other co-founders include Sergey Levine, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lachy Groom, an investor and former executive at Stripe.
OpenAI’s Commitment to Supporting Robotics Startups
In addition to investing in Physical Intelligence, OpenAI partnered with Figure AI earlier this year as part of a $675-million Series B funding round. Through this partnership, OpenAI is committed to developing next-generation AI models for humanoid robots. In March 2023, the OpenAI Startup Fund led a $23.5 million investment round in 1X Technologies, a Norwegian company focused on creating humanoid robots.
Ex-Meta Hardware Exec Joins OpenAI to Head Robotics
Caitlin Kalinowski, a prominent figure in the consumer hardware and robotics industry and Meta’s former head of hardware for augmented reality (AR), has joined OpenAI. Sharing the news on X, she said, “I’m delighted to share that I’m joining OpenAI to lead robotics and consumer hardware!”
Kalinowski brings a wealth of experience to OpenAI. At Meta, she oversaw the development of the Orion AR glasses, which were recently showcased at Meta’s annual Connect conference. Before her work on AR, she led Meta’s virtual reality hardware team for nine years and designed hardware for MacBooks during her tenure at Apple.
NVIDIA Highlights Adoption of Omniverse and Isaac by Robot Market Leaders
Back in April, NVIDIA announced several new robotics-related technologies at the 2024 GPU Technology Conference. These new products include Project GR00T, Jetson Thor, Isaac Lab, OSMO, Isaac Manipulator, and Isaac Perceptor.
The company said that many manufacturers are producing a new generation of “AI computers” using its chips to enable Omniverse for modelling and business workflows.
The company has also updated Jetson for Robotics in NVIDIA JetPack 6.0 and included NVIDIA Isaac Lab, a lightweight app for robot learning, in NVIDIA Isaac Sim 4.0.
Boston Dynamics Replaces Old Hydraulic Atlas With New Electric Model
Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics company, announced the suspension of development of the hydraulically actuated robot Atlas after a decade of its creation. In less than 24 hours, the company announced its new humanoid Electric Atlas.
“Atlas may resemble a human form factor, but we are equipping the robot to move in the most efficient way possible to complete a task, rather than being constrained by a human range of motion. Atlas will move in ways that exceed human capabilities,” the company said in its blog post.
The upcoming electric iteration of Atlas features enhanced strength and a wider range of movement compared to its predecessors.
Now, it’s being referred to as a worthy competitor to Figure 01 humanoids.
Figure AI
Brett Adcock, founder of Figure AI, predicted that everyone will own a robot in the future, much like how nearly everyone owns a car or phone today.
The first-generation robot, Figure 01, took its first steps within a year of its development. As technology advances, owning a humanoid could indeed become more cost-effective than employing human workers.
Interestingly, the robotics company unveiled its second-generation humanoid robot, Figure 02. The company said it is one step closer to its goal of selling production humanoids to industrial users, with the latest design refining every element of the original Figure 01.
Meanwhile, Figure AI has acquired both investment and a partnership from OpenAI. According to a report, Goldman Sachs estimates that the cost of the Figure 01 humanoid is around $30,000 to $150,000 per unit.
Optimus Humanoid Robots
In August 2021, Tesla introduced a prototype humanoid robot, which Elon Musk believes could help humanity achieve fairly ambitious goals.
When unveiled in 2022, though impressive, the humanoid was unable to execute tasks and could only make a diffident waving gesture. However, after almost a year, the humanoid was able to pick and sort objects, navigate its way, and even do yoga.
Halfway through the year, further updates were announced for Optimus-Gen 2.
At Tesla’s ‘We, Robot’ event, several humanoid Optimus robots were seen walking around, serving drinks, and handing out gift bags to the attendees.
Humanoid Robot Digit Secures its First Official Job
Agility Robotics, another American robotics company, continues to have a leg up in the humanoid race. In June 2024, the company signed a multi-year deal with GXO Logistics to deploy Digit humanoids in various logistics operations.
The first official deployment of Digit is already up and running, generating real revenue for the company. The Digit humanoid was declared the Robot of the Year at the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards.
The bipedal robot, which was designed for versatility and human-like movement, also earned a spot on TIME magazine’s cover for best inventions.
“There will be many firsts in the humanoid robot market in the years to come, but I’m extremely proud of the fact that Agility is the first with actual humanoid robots deployed at a customer site, generating revenue, and solving real-world business problems,” said Peggy Johnson, CEO of Agility Robotics.
Robotics Investments Surpass $2.1 Billion
Robotics investments in May 2024 touched over $2.1 billion, driven by funding for 37 companies. This amount marks the highest monthly total for 2024, significantly surpassing the 12-month average of $1.2 billion. By the end of May 2024, total robotics funding had reached approximately $5.7 billion.
GrayMatter Raises $45 Million to Facilitate Robot Programming for Manufacturers
GrayMatter Robotics announced that it has raised $45 million. The Carson, a California-based company, said it plans to use the investment to expand to meet customer demand.
“We founded GrayMatter to enhance productivity while prioritising workforce well-being,” stated Ariyan Kabir, co-founder and CEO of GrayMatter Robotics.
One thing to keep in mind is that GrayMatter applies AI to production tasks. The $2.5 trillion US manufacturing industry is grappling with a growing backlog of unfilled orders due to a severe labour shortage. Many of these roles are hazardous and demand extensive training, leading to a critical gap of 3.8 million unfilled jobs, according to Deloitte.
Fourier’s Humanoid Robot Paves the Way for Affordable Elderly Care
Chinese robotics company Fourier Intelligence’s latest creation, the GR-2 humanoid robot, is pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible in elderly care and assistance for people with disabilities. This advanced machine isn’t just about replacing human caregivers, it’s also about enhancing the quality of life for those who need assistance the most.
It has made significant improvements to the GR-2’s hardware. The robot can now generate peak torques exceeding 280 pound-feet, a considerable increase from its predecessor. This strengthens its agility and dynamic capabilities and allows it to perform a wider range of tasks with ease.
The company has also developed seven distinct actuators for the GR-2, each tailored to meet specific torque demands of every joint. This innovation enables the robot to perform complex tasks with enhanced flexibility and human-like movements.
Vecna Robotics Raises Over $100 Million to Expand Warehouse Automation
Although investment in robotics dipped in the past year, suppliers with proven products and business models have been finding funding. In June 2024, Vecna Robotics closed its Series C round at $100 million, along with $40 million in new funding, including equity and debt. The financing nearly doubled the company’s valuation since its Series B round.
“Finalising this capital raise, with the help of our existing investors and a new financing partner, is a huge validation that we are on the right track,” stated Craig Malloy, CEO of Vecna Robotics.
As 2024 ushers in a wave of upgrades across various robotics projects, it is exciting to imagine what significant breakthroughs 2025 will bring to the rapidly evolving robotics industry.
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