Latest news with #humanoidrobots
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Humanoid robots fail to hit each other during martial arts battle in China
Two robots attempted to battle it out using martial arts skills in a competition in China, footage released on 12 July shows. The humanoid machines, wearing jerseys and gloves, faced off during a boxing show at the ZheBA event in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Video showed the pair facing each other and throwing punches into the air without making conact with one another. One of the robots fell to the floor as laughter rang out inside the venue. It comes after the world's first humanoid robot kickboxing tournament was held in the Chinese city. Footage showed robots throwing fists and knees in front of a baying crowd until one loses its balance and falls backwards, tumbling outside the ring.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
10 Amazing Humanoid Robots Already Walking Among Us Today
Humanoid robots — long seen as futuristic — are already here, walking, talking, and working among ... More us. This article profiles the most advanced examples to date, including Tesla's Optimus, Boston Dynamics' Atlas, and 1X's Neo Gamma. Walking, talking humanoid robots that were once firmly the domain of science fiction are on their way. In fact, a Morgan Stanley report recently predicted that 13 million human robots will be among us by 2035, rising to one billion by 2050. But we probably won't have to wait even 10 years to see one. In fact, what could be considered the first wave of truly useful, human-like machines is already here. Recent years have seen a number of prototypes and production models stepping out of the robotics labs of some of the world's leading AI companies and into the world. In many ways, they are all very different from each other. However, they all embody the core concept of a machine that mimics our own anatomical design in order to carry out physical tasks that previously only humans could do. So in this piece, I'll take a look at some of the most advanced, useful, impressive and sometimes scary humanoid robots that are already among us today (or at least, will be soon).Optimus Generation 2 Manufacturer: Tesla Height: Approx 1.73 meters (5ft 8in) Weight: 57kg (125 lbs) Cost: Projected around $20,000 to $30,000 when produced at scale Probably the most famous of the current batch of humanoid robots. Most of the things Elon Musk does receive media attention, including his claim that he expects this robot to be more important to the company than its cars in the future. The Generation 2 model was announced in 2023 and is said to have successfully carried out tasks in Tesla factories. The robot is reportedly built around the same end-to-end automation framework as the cars, with different elements like motors, battery systems, AI and navigation networked in the same way. The main differentiators are its tactile hands and human-like motion. Optimus has been shown picking up eggs, dancing, serving drinks, performing household chores, and playing Rock Paper Scissors with Kim Kardashian. However, there has been criticism that some of Optimus's actions and speech during public demonstrations appear to be assisted by humans via telepresence (remote control) rather than truly AI-driven behavior. All-New Atlas Manufacturer: Boston Dynamics Height: Approx 1.5 meters (4ft 11in) Weight: 80kg Cost: Unknown – not commercially available This is the name currently being used for what will be the newest model in the Atlas series. Since 2013, videos of Boston Dynamics' Atlas robots, most recently Atlas HD, have amazed and amused YouTube audiences, where it has been seen sprinting, flipping, dancing and often falling over in amusing ways. Unlike previous models, the All-New Atlas is fully electric rather than powered by hydraulics. The switch-over will make the robots lighter and more damage-resistant, with more precise control over their movements. See highlights of the previous Atlas models here and meet the All-New Atlas here. Neo Gamma Manufacturer: 1X Technologies Height: 1.65m (5ft 3in) Weight: 30kg (66lbs) Cost: Expected price $20,000 - $30,000 Neo Gamma is a domestic robot capable of carrying out chores like vacuum cleaning, laundry folding, and loading dishwashers, according to videos released by the OpenAI-backed US/Norwegian manufacturer. Rather than being armored in hard plastic or steel, Neo Gamma's 'skin' is crafted from a cushiony nylon fabric, designed to both look more comfortable at home and enhance safety. A previous model, Neo Beta, was capable of running at 7 mph, although there's no detail yet about how that might change with the Gamma. Its mechanical framework is built around tendon-driven actuators designed to give the humanoid a realistic range of motions and movements. And it can also engage in human-like conversations thanks to its custom LLM. You can see a promotional video created by 1X to announce the arrival of Neo Gamma here. GR-2 Manufacturer: Fourier Intelligence Height: 1.75m (5ft 7in) Weight: 63kg (139lbs) Cost: Not publicly known, but previous GR-1 models were reportedly priced at $149,000 Touted as 'the world's first mass-produced humanoid robot', GR-2's hands are said to be twice as dexterous as those found on its predecessor, the GR-1. Currently, Fourier's humanoids are largely used in academic and industrial settings, but trials are taking place to assess their use in domestic and caregiving settings, too. The GR-2 can walk at up to 5 mph and excels at handling objects in a tactile way, being capable of adjusting its grip in real time to suit different tasks and objects. See GR-2 in action here, and this video explores some of the ways that GR-2 has improved on GR-1. H1 Manufacturer: Unitree Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in) Weight: 47kg (104 lbs) Cost: From $16,000 In 2024, H1 took the Guinness World Record for the fastest running speed achieved by an electric (non-hydraulic) bipedal humanoid robot, of 7.38 mph. This Chinese-designed humanoid has a 360-degree perception of its environment thanks to LiDAR sensors and is able to walk, run and perform backflips using electric actuators alone. It is built on open-source technology in order to make it accessible to a wider range of businesses with limited budgets. In one video, it's also seen opening bottles of Coke, frying food in a pan, operating a hammer and soldering iron, and folding itself up into a package small enough to be carried. Figure 02 Manufacturer: Figure AI Height: Approx 1.68 meters (5ft 6in) Weight: 70kg (155 lbs) Cost: Not publicly disclosed, projected at around $150,000 F 02 could be considered the workhorse of the humanoid robot world, considering it has been successfully put to work at BMW's Spartanburg, U.S. manufacturing plant. Working on production lines, it has been credited with achieving a 400% increase in speed of work over its predecessor model F 01. Other units have been shipped to undisclosed customers who have put them to work in warehouses and factories. In the industrial setting for which it's designed, it can move safely among human workers, lifting large objects as well as carrying out precision tasks. Figure is powered by a proprietary AI model created for it by OpenAI, with Figure also receiving funding from OpenAI, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Intel. This video shows some clips of Figure 02 in action, as well as having a conversation. Digit Manufacturer: Agility Robotics Height: Approx 1.75 meters (5ft 9in) Weight: 70kg (155 lbs) Cost: Not publicly disclosed This robot is specialized for factory work and, alongside the F 01 and F 02, is one of the few robots known to have been commercially sold and deployed. Use cases have focused on repetitive logistics tasks where it is capable of picking up and carrying objects, retrieving items from shelves and sorting into totes. Phoenix Manufacturer: Sanctuary AI Height: Approx 1.7 meters (5ft 7in) Weight: 70kg (155 lbs) Cost: Not publicly disclosed What sets Phoenix apart from other industrial humanoids, such as F 02 and Digit, is its superior ability to learn new tasks. While training robots to complete physical tasks they haven't attempted before is often a weeks-long process, Phoenix has been able to cut this down to just 24 hours. In addition to industrial settings, Phoenix has been commercially deployed in retail premises, where it was responsible for stocking shelves and packaging customer orders during its pilot tenure at a Canadian clothing store. Watch Phoenix become faster at performing repetitive human tasks here. Apollo Manufacturer: Apptronik Height: 1.73m (5ft 8in) Weight: 72kg (160lbs) Cost: Unknown This heavy-hitting industrial humanoid can lift 25k in its arms while navigating aisles and loading bays. It can palletize goods and has completed successful pilots with Mercedes-Benz as well as NASA, which has been backing the manufacturer since Apptronik took part in the DARPA Robotics Challenge in 2013. Apptronik itself was initially spun out of the University of Texas's Human-Centered Robotics Lab, with the specific aim of advancing humanoid use in industry. Check out this short video introducing Apollo and some of the tasks it can carry out. Booster T1 Manufacturer: Booster Robotics Height: 1.2m (4ft) Weight: 30kg (66lbs) Cost: Currently sells for Euro 39,000 in France, and $47,685 in the U.S. Four teams of these robots, operated fully autonomously, competed in three-versus-three soccer matches in China. Four university teams competed in what is said to be the first fully autonomous championship featuring robots playing 'human sports'. The robots are capable of working as a team to control the ball and score goals, and are capable of withstanding impacts from the ball or other players, and picking themselves up after falling. Viewers commented that pro footballers shouldn't worry about their jobs yet and two players were 'stretchered off' after becoming damaged. But it was still an exciting preview of what could be in store at the first World Humanoid Robot Games, which will also take place in China. You can see footage of the robot-versus-robot match here. As these remarkable machines continue to evolve, the line between science fiction and reality is disappearing fast. Whether they're helping in factories, folding laundry, or playing football, humanoid robots are no longer just prototypes; they're becoming co-workers, companions, and collaborators in our daily lives. The real question now is: how ready are we for them?
CNN
6 days ago
- Automotive
- CNN
Tesla shareholders want a full-time CEO. That's not how Musk works
This is a crucial year for Tesla. Just ask Elon Musk. In January, he described 2025 as 'maybe the most important' in the company's history, with the admittedly ambitious goals of releasing its long-promised robotaxi service and humanoid robots. But Musk's attention was monopolized by a high-profile role in the Trump administration as problems at Tesla began to mount. Even after stepping very far away from that role, Musk remains focused on a wide range of activities outside of Tesla, including starting a third political party and trying to fix problems at X, his social media platform. The leaves Tesla — the most valuable automaker on the planet, employing 125,000 worldwide — missing one thing every other major company has: a full-time boss focused on its future. Instead, the company has a chief executive who is so polarizing its costing the company sales and likely the ability to attract talent. While Tesla's board and shareholders aren't likely to show him the door, they probably should. 'To have one of the biggest companies in the world, not have a full-time CEO is unheard of,' said Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki, an investment firm and one of the early investors in Tesla. Gerber, a previous fan of the company and Musk, thinks he has now become a problem for Tesla. 'The fact of the matter is that Tesla is a massive company that needs a lot of attention, and it just isn't getting it,' Gerber told CNN. Tesla faces a slew of problems, like plunging profits and the biggest drop in sales in the company's history, partly due to severe brand damage caused by Musk's political activities. Then there's regulatory credits, a huge source of revenue for Tesla, disappearing under the tax and spending bill just passed by Congress. The bill also took away a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle buyers, which will further cut into demand. Meanwhile, Tesla's once-high-flying stock has lost more than a third of its value since hitting a record high last December. A company facing such serious problems needs a CEO who is laser-focused. The mounting problems even have some Tesla bulls believing there needs to be more constraints on Musk. 'We believe this is a tipping point in the Tesla story and ultimately the Tesla Board needs to act now and set the ground rules for Musk going forward around his political ambitions and actions,' Dan Ives, tech analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note to clients this week. Ives said the board should impose rules for how much time Musk must spend at Tesla and introduce an oversight committee for his political activities. 'Tesla is heading into one of the most important stages of its growth cycle with the autonomous and robotics future now on the doorstep and cannot have Musk spending more and more time creating a political party which will require countless time, energy, and political capital,' Ives wrote. Tesla did not respond to CNN's request for comment on calls for Musk to spend more time at the company. However, Musk responded to Ives' suggestion by posting on X, 'Shut up, Dan.' But it's not just analysts calling for Musk to be required to show up at the job that made him the richest person on the planet. A number of Tesla shareholders, including some Democrats who oversee the investment of public sector pension fund money in Tesla stock, complained in May to Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm that Musk's other activities are hurting the company. 'Musk's outside endeavors appear to have diverted his time and attention from actively managing Tesla's operations, as any other chief executive officer of a publicly traded company would be expected to do,' said the letter. 'The current crisis at Tesla puts into sharp focus the long-term problems at the company stemming from the CEO's absence.' Even if Musk is forced to focus solely on Tesla, Gerber says Musk doesn't seem excited anymore about its core EV business, which continues to lose market share even as sales of electric vehicles increase around the globe. 'He doesn't want to be in the car business anymore,' said Gerber. 'He knows that everybody hates him. So, he thinks, 'Let's just focus on this robotaxi business and making robots, because if I put a big shiny object in front of people, they'll be distracted from the reality that Tesla has real problems and I don't have a solution for them.'' Tesla fans will argue that what matters now is the rollout of its robotaxi service, as well as developments in self-driving, robots and artificial intelligence. But there are serious questions as to whether Musk is the right person to oversee the challenging transition. For example, the robotaxi business finally debuted last month in Austin, Texas, but on a very limited basis and only for invited guests, not the general public. That is far behind the robotaxi efforts of Alphabet's Waymo, which is already providing more than 250,000 paid rides a week in Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco. Gerber said he still drives a Tesla himself and has made more than $100 million on investments in the company. But he says he's sold virtually all his Tesla shares and advised clients to do the same. Gerber said he's frustrated because, with the right leadership, the company could achieve all its goals. But Musk, he says, is not the right leader. 'I don't think he has any grasp or grip on reality and any way at this point, and it doesn't seem to be anybody there to shake him and be like, 'Dude, you know, you're not seeing the world like that everybody else right now,'' he said. But Gerber also doesn't see the Tesla board putting any limits on Musk, let alone replacing him. 'He's not going anywhere,' he said.
CNN
6 days ago
- Automotive
- CNN
Tesla shareholders want a full-time CEO. That's not how Musk works
This is a crucial year for Tesla. Just ask Elon Musk. In January, he described 2025 as 'maybe the most important' in the company's history, with the admittedly ambitious goals of releasing its long-promised robotaxi service and humanoid robots. But Musk's attention was monopolized by a high-profile role in the Trump administration as problems at Tesla began to mount. Even after stepping very far away from that role, Musk remains focused on a wide range of activities outside of Tesla, including starting a third political party and trying to fix problems at X, his social media platform. The leaves Tesla — the most valuable automaker on the planet, employing 125,000 worldwide — missing one thing every other major company has: a full-time boss focused on its future. Instead, the company has a chief executive who is so polarizing its costing the company sales and likely the ability to attract talent. While Tesla's board and shareholders aren't likely to show him the door, they probably should. 'To have one of the biggest companies in the world, not have a full-time CEO is unheard of,' said Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki, an investment firm and one of the early investors in Tesla. Gerber, a previous fan of the company and Musk, thinks he has now become a problem for Tesla. 'The fact of the matter is that Tesla is a massive company that needs a lot of attention, and it just isn't getting it,' Gerber told CNN. Tesla faces a slew of problems, like plunging profits and the biggest drop in sales in the company's history, partly due to severe brand damage caused by Musk's political activities. Then there's regulatory credits, a huge source of revenue for Tesla, disappearing under the tax and spending bill just passed by Congress. The bill also took away a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle buyers, which will further cut into demand. Meanwhile, Tesla's once-high-flying stock has lost more than a third of its value since hitting a record high last December. A company facing such serious problems needs a CEO who is laser-focused. The mounting problems even have some Tesla bulls believing there needs to be more constraints on Musk. 'We believe this is a tipping point in the Tesla story and ultimately the Tesla Board needs to act now and set the ground rules for Musk going forward around his political ambitions and actions,' Dan Ives, tech analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note to clients this week. Ives said the board should impose rules for how much time Musk must spend at Tesla and introduce an oversight committee for his political activities. 'Tesla is heading into one of the most important stages of its growth cycle with the autonomous and robotics future now on the doorstep and cannot have Musk spending more and more time creating a political party which will require countless time, energy, and political capital,' Ives wrote. Tesla did not respond to CNN's request for comment on calls for Musk to spend more time at the company. However, Musk responded to Ives' suggestion by posting on X, 'Shut up, Dan.' But it's not just analysts calling for Musk to be required to show up at the job that made him the richest person on the planet. A number of Tesla shareholders, including some Democrats who oversee the investment of public sector pension fund money in Tesla stock, complained in May to Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm that Musk's other activities are hurting the company. 'Musk's outside endeavors appear to have diverted his time and attention from actively managing Tesla's operations, as any other chief executive officer of a publicly traded company would be expected to do,' said the letter. 'The current crisis at Tesla puts into sharp focus the long-term problems at the company stemming from the CEO's absence.' Even if Musk is forced to focus solely on Tesla, Gerber says Musk doesn't seem excited anymore about its core EV business, which continues to lose market share even as sales of electric vehicles increase around the globe. 'He doesn't want to be in the car business anymore,' said Gerber. 'He knows that everybody hates him. So, he thinks, 'Let's just focus on this robotaxi business and making robots, because if I put a big shiny object in front of people, they'll be distracted from the reality that Tesla has real problems and I don't have a solution for them.'' Tesla fans will argue that what matters now is the rollout of its robotaxi service, as well as developments in self-driving, robots and artificial intelligence. But there are serious questions as to whether Musk is the right person to oversee the challenging transition. For example, the robotaxi business finally debuted last month in Austin, Texas, but on a very limited basis and only for invited guests, not the general public. That is far behind the robotaxi efforts of Alphabet's Waymo, which is already providing more than 250,000 paid rides a week in Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco. Gerber said he still drives a Tesla himself and has made more than $100 million on investments in the company. But he says he's sold virtually all his Tesla shares and advised clients to do the same. Gerber said he's frustrated because, with the right leadership, the company could achieve all its goals. But Musk, he says, is not the right leader. 'I don't think he has any grasp or grip on reality and any way at this point, and it doesn't seem to be anybody there to shake him and be like, 'Dude, you know, you're not seeing the world like that everybody else right now,'' he said. But Gerber also doesn't see the Tesla board putting any limits on Musk, let alone replacing him. 'He's not going anywhere,' he said.
Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
China's military newspaper defies Xi Jinping over battlefield robots
An official Chinese military newspaper has risked undermining Xi Jinping's defence ambitions by warning against the use of humanoid robots on the battlefield. In an article published on Thursday, three authors said that large-scale, normalised use could lead to 'indiscriminate killings and accidental deaths', which would inevitably result in legal charges and moral condemnation. They added that militaries should conduct 'ethical and legal research' on humanoid robots to 'avoid moral pitfalls.' The plea, which was published in the PLA Daily – named for the country's military, the People's Liberation Army – was written by Yuan Yi, Ma Ye and Yue Shiguang. However, it's unclear whether they are military officials or civilian defence experts. The authors noted that because humanoid robots remove the risk of battlefield casualties, they are likely to 'become a new growth pole for military intelligence', following in the rapid expansion of drones and other unmanned vehicles. Combat use should be 'constrained' They also said that the understanding of these kinds of robots is 'still in the embryonic stage with insufficient exploration and unclear positioning' and rules are key to 'regulating and constraining their combat use, avoiding mistakes and loss of control'. The article in the PLA Daily was a strange departure from the usual propaganda that the military-run outlet normally produces and has raised eyebrows among China watchers in terms of what exactly it was intended to accomplish. Less than two months ago, the outlet published an article praising humanoid robots and their ability to 'transform humanity's perception of the future of warfare'. China has a reputation for concealing and obfuscating its own capacities by pointing the finger at others – especially the US – but the article could also indicate that there are some in Beijing that disagree with the highly-automated trajectory the country is headed in. The article did not make any specific mention of the PLA, but did explicitly name other countries, including the US, Russia and Japan, which, it said, 'attach great importance to the development of humanoid robots and their military applications'. While many countries around the world have invested in the development of robots, artificial intelligence and unmanned vehicles, China has been the leading player in the field with the development of its 'army of robots'. Over 250,000 Chinese roboworkers China has more automation capacity than the US, Germany and Japan and more robots per worker than any other country, except for South Korea and Singapore. According to the International Federation of Robotics, between 2022 and 2023, China deployed over 276,00 roboworkers – more than half of all robots in use around the world. Last month, Chinese state media celebrated this fact with widespread reports publicising the world's first fully autonomous AI robot football match. China's defence sector has also been rapidly developing and incorporating robotics, namely with the developments of combat-trained robot dogs. Chinese military strategists within the PLA have also advocated for the use of humanoid robots specifically in combat settings. The US has not been focusing on humanoid technology as much, and is prioritising a new generation of fighter jets, as well as ramping up drone production. Wang Yonghua, a scholar at the PLA's top research institute, has previously written that humanoid robots 'can simulate various human activities, better realise human-computer interaction, and are more suitable for replacing humans to complete complex tasks'.
