Top Humanoid Robots Innovations So Far

Top Humanoid Robot Innovations in Use Right Now That Changed the World

Humanoid robots have the utmost potential to become a future industrial tool. They will continue to play a central role in robotics research and many 21st century applications. Currently, they are likely to serve as companions and assistants in daily life and as ultimate assistants in human-made and natural disasters.

Here are some top innovations in humanoid robots bringing the world beyond imagination.

Sophia

Developed by Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics, Sophia is a social humanoid robot. She was activated in February 2016 and made her first public appearance at South by Southwest Festival in mid-March 2016 in Austin, TX. Since its launch, Sophia has garnered a lot of media coverage, featuring numerous high-profile interviews, events, and panel discussions across the world. Sophia is a first of its kind of robot who received citizenship from any country and was named the world's first UN Innovation Champion.

Toyota T-HR3

Toyota T-HR3 is a third-generation humanoid robot, which was designed from the get-go to be remote-controlled by a human. It is 1.5-meter tall, weighs 75 kilograms, and has torque-controlled freedom of 32 degrees with a pair of 10 fingered hands. The robot is designed to be a platform with capabilities that can safely assist people in a different variety of settings like home, medical facilities, disaster-stricken areas, construction sites, and outer space. T-HR3 is controlled by a Master Maneuvering System that enables the robot's entire body to be instinctively operated with wearable controls. That control system maps the robot's hand, arm, and foot movements and a head-mounted display allows users to see from the robot's perspective.

Honda E2-DR

E2-DR is a disaster response robot from Honda that is able to navigate through dangerous, complex environments. The robot looks like a humanoid, and heavier and tougher than the company's Asimo, first presented in 2000. Honda E2-DR is designed to perform as a rescuer in a broad range of situations dangerous for human rescuers, including areas with high background radiation or in a structurally unsound, badly damaged building. Armed with three LED-equipped cameras, rotating laser rangefinders, infrared projectors, and 3D cameras to navigate its potentially hazardous environments, Honda E2-DR is 1.68 m tall, 85 kg in weight.

Xin Xiaomeng

Xin Xiaomeng is the first female AI news anchor at the Chinese state-owned Xinhua news agency. In February last year, the news agency divulged its latest effort to deliver content through AI. Working in collaboration with the Chinese search engine company Sogou to produce Xin, the robot made her debut at China's Two Sessions meetings. Xin Xiaomeng is the second AI-based news anchor working for the news agency, developed in collaboration with Sogou. Xinhua has been experimenting with AI-driven journalism in recent years, including a robot reporter whose attempt to emulate a human went slightly awry.

Boston Dynamics Atlas

Atlas is a bipedal humanoid robot that was developed by Boston Dynamics, with funding and oversight from the U.S. Department of Defense agency, DARPA. The robot, which is 1.8-meter tall, is designed for the DARPA Robot Challenge. Unveiled in July 2013, the objective of this robot was to assist in a variety of search and rescue tasks. The control system of Atlas coordinates motions of the arms, torso, and legs to accomplish whole-body mobile manipulation, significantly expanding its reach and workspace. The second Atlas generation could walk on snow, pick up boxes, and stand up alone after falling, that humanoids are prone to perform