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