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.
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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.