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Figure has unveil its latest humanoid robot , the Figure 02 . The system is — as its name helpfully suggests — the replacement to the Figure 01 robotunveiled in 2023 . An initial tease video is exchangeable to those we ’ve seen from other humanoids , ring consumer electronics Cartesian product video , rather than a in the raw demonstration of the robot in action at law .
Another telecasting released Tuesdayshowcases the robot ’s slow , bent - wooden leg gait across the floor of what looks to be the demo area constructed in the middle of Figure ’s offices . Another two robots appear in the background , carting totes — the biggest out - of - the - box program for most of these humanoids .
The most noted gain this time out make it by way of a longstanding partnership with OpenAI , which aid physique raise a$675 million Series B back in February , valuing the South Bay firm at $ 2.6 billion .
The mainstream explosion of neural connection has been enticing for the robotics industriousness at declamatory , but humanoid developers have taken a special interestingness in the technology . One of the form divisor ’s key selling points is its ability to effectively slot alongside human co - worker on a factory story — once the proper rubber measures are in lieu , of line . image 02 is outfitted with speakers and microphones to verbalise and heed to people at workplace .
Models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have been prized for their natural language capability , usher in a unexampled area of smart assistants and chatbots . Outfitting these systems with such capacity is a no - brainer : Doing so helps humankind instruct the robot , while at the same time adding a degree of transparence to what the automaton is doing at any given time .
Communication like this is doubly important when dealing with humanoid golem , as the system are designed to wander freely without a safety cage . Despite their human - like design , it ’s authoritative not to lose view of the fact that they ’re still vainglorious , hard and potentially grievous pieces of moving metal . Combined with vision and proximity sensors , speech can be an crucial safety tool .
form certainly is n’t alone in this work . Late last class , Agility showcasedthe work it ’s been doing to leverage generative AI for improved human - robot communication . The use of neuronal networks was a cardinal focussing for Google ’s Everyday Robots team before it was shutter . Elon Musk , meanwhile , is ostensibly in charge of both Grok AI and Optimus — two undertaking that will no doubt dovetail sooner rather than subsequently .
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For its part , OpenAI has hedged its bets a bit in the class . Prior to its Figure investiture , the firm backed Norse firm 1X. Over the preceding year , however , Figure has become far buzzier in the industry . Its said Series B also admit other top tech name like Microsoft , Amazon , Nvidia and Intel Capital .
Figurerecently start pilots with BMW . In June , the companydebuted a videoshowcasing an before , tethered reading of the automaton autonomously perform tasks on the floor , with the helper of nervous networks .
The company observe that the 02 golem has already pay a sojourn to the automaker ’s Spartanburg , South Carolina , installation for grooming and data point collection intention . We ’re still very much in the early stage of these partnerships . Agility , Apptronik and Sanctuary AI have announced similar pilots with carmakers . Working on Teslas has been a key focus for Optimus since before it was Optimus , and Boston Dynamics - possessor Hyundai has its slew determine on humanoids in its own factories .
Communication is one piece of what Figure is have-to doe with to as a “ ground - up hardware and software system redesign ” between 01 and 02 . The list also includes six RGB photographic camera , coupled with an onboard visual speech model , improved CPU / GPU computer science and improved hired hand , with 16 grade of freedom .
Hands have been their own hot - button topic in the android golem man . There are take issue opinions regarding how closely graphic designer should hew to their human counterparts .
There ’s a lot to be say for the nimbleness and dexterity of our appendage , though human - inspire hands have been criticized for their delicacy and a perceived over technology . Figure , for its part , has been dedicated to using humanlike hand as its system ’s end effectors .
We do n’t have a timeline for a wide name 02 rollout , though the caller is hinting at a broader future outside the warehouse / mill floor . “ Figure ’s robot combines the sleight of the human course with advanced AI to do a wide range of tasks across commercial-grade coating and , in the near future tense , the home , ” the company write .
