Researchers at Google DeepMind and Stanford University on Wednesday announced Mobile ALOHA, a low-cost open-source hardware system for bimanual teleoperation.
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It is a humanoid robot that can be remote operated by a user and perform autonomously by imitation learning.
In a video posted on X, researchers showed that ALOHA can autonomously cook and serve shrimps, call and take the elevator, and store a 3lbs pot in a cabinet – tasks it learned through imitation of 50 demos.
Further, through user-controlled teleoperations, it can do laundry, self-charge, use a vacuum cleaner, water plants, load and unload a dishwasher, use a coffee machine and much more.
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ALOHA is a lightweight robot walking at a human speed of 1.42 metre a second and can carry up to 100-kilogramme weight.
Both the hardware and machine-learning algorithm of ALOHA are open-sourced.
The whole system costs less than $20,000 with off-the-shelf robots and 3D-printed components, according to Trossen Robotics website where buyers can place an order for ALOHA.
ET takes a look at how humanoid robots such as Tesla’s Optimus and Hansen Robotics’ Sophia are automating simple and complex human tasks.
Optimus by Tesla
Optimus, the robotics arm of Elon Musk’s auto behemoth Tesla, released its first version of humanoid robot Bumblebee in September 2022, followed by Optimus Gen-1 and Optimus Gen-2 last year.
Unlike ALOHA’s low-cost arms-only structure, Optimus robots are nothing short of walking human designed in black and white metal body. In the limited information posted about Optimus, the robot is shown holding plant-watering water cans, lifting bars of aluminium in the Tesla factory, and performing microtasks such as sorting blocks.
Given the high-end design and performance capabilities of Optimus, the robot is likely to be commercialised through industrial use-cases such as warehousing, manufacturing, and retail, roboticists believe.
Sophia by Hanson Robotics
Sophia by far is the oldest and most loved humanoid robot which shot to fame in 2017 when Saudi Arabia granted her citizenship, making her the world’s first robot to become a legal person in any country.
Created by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, Sophia essentially as a social bot created to induce human feelings. It is designed to be a suitable companion for the elderly at nursing homes, to help crowds at large events or parks, or to serve in customer service, therapy, and educational applications.
She has made several public appearances in talk shows, events and even appeared in a speed-dating video. In 2021, a self-portrait created by Sophia sold for nearly $700,000 at an auction!
Since Sophia’s success, Hanson Robotics has released nine of her siblings, including Alice, Albert Einstein Hubo, BINA48, Han, Jules, Zeno, and Joey Chaos. Hanson also released ‘Little Sophia’ as a companion that could teach children how to code.