Best AI Humanoid Robots

In 1984, Terminator was released, and in that film, we watched a metal exoskeleton walking on the road, demolishing buildings, chasing cars, etc. These robots have emerged from the screen of imagination into reality, slowly and constantly transforming and impacting human lives. These high-tech metal pieces are packed with advanced sensors, cameras, and electronic components, which help the machines analyze information and react according to the environment. Many big tech companies are working on robot development to improve their decision-making capabilities with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In this article, we will deep dive into the best AI Humanoid Robots, surpassing human limits and offering a glimpse into the future.

Best Humanoid Robot

Atlas

Boston Dynamics is a pioneer in robotics and design. Founded in 1992, this company has developed many robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence solutions currently used by U.S. armies and big tech companies. In July 2013, Boston Dynamics launched a bipedal humanoid robot for search and rescue tasks. The robot was named” Atlas”; initially, it was just a 6-foot-tall robot walking on the stones with wires attached to its body. This first version of Atlas showed the world the power of Bipedal Robots in rescue and search mission tasks. Later, Boston Dynamics introduced Atlas 2.0 with a slimmer design, improved body material, fewer external wires, advancements in sensors, etc. This new Atlas won the Dapra Robotics Challenge. After that, Boston Dynamics launched a new Hydraulic Atlas known as” HD-Atlas.” it was an improved version of all its predecessors, mainly for household tasks.

After trying so many times and failing, Boston Dynamics finally showcased the world by releasing a video that shows that the Atlas is doing backflips, helping in day-to-day tasks, loading small cargo, and many more. But, in April 2024, the company retired the HD-Atlas and launched a new and most advanced version of the bipedal robot, named “Electric Atlas.” This new robot has been mainly developed for customer service, so the company keeps a solid focus on its design. The new Atlas has an entirely human look-alike design with a height of 150 cm and a weight of 85 kg. It has a ring light on its circular face, keeping it more like a human.

Like the old Atlas, which worked on hydraulic mechanisms, with an opposite this new Atlas works on the new electric actuators mechanism model, making it an enhanced product with improved efficiency. The company also adds advanced sensors, fine motors, a laser rangefinder, swiveling joints, and stereo cameras, enabling it to handle irregular objects and navigate rough terrains. For better communication with humans, the new Atlas is powered by AI and NLP and supported by Boston Dynamics’ new Orbit software platform, which will manage the robot’s operations and data, making the robot work better in real-life environments. 

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Optimus Gen 2

Optimus Gen 2 is an AI humanoid robot developed by none other than electric car giant Tesla. Tesla showcased the humanoid robot at their AI Day event. It is the Tesla’s third humanoid robot after the Bumblebee and Optimus Gen 1. The Gen 2 is made up of a combination of metals and plastics. Polyether Ether Ketone(PEEK) is used in development as a lightweight material that takes all the spotlight. The robot is 180cm tall and weighs 47kg, 10kg less than its previous one. According to Tesla, the robot can do all home tasks, such as boiling eggs, squats, dancing, etc.

The Gen 2 can walk at 8kmph, 30% faster than its Optimus Gen 1. To improve the locomotion in the robot, Tesla attached a new advanced hand mechanism with 11 DoF(degree of freedom); the hands have tactile sensing technology, allowing the robot to hold delicate objects. Other features are in-house actuators and sensors, integrated electronics and harnessing, an actuated neck powered by 2 DoF, human foot geometry, and many more. Tesla also promised to add AI features such as NLP LLM so that the robot can better understand human commands. 

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H1 

Founded in 2016, Unitree is a Chinese company that mainly designs and develops robots integrated with artificial intelligence. The company has already created many innovations in robotics and established itself as one of the top players in hardware AI. The company recently revealed the first-ever general-purpose humanoid robot named ”H1”.  The H1 comprises composite and lightweight materials such as PLA, PETG, Nylon, Resin, etc.  The size of this robot is about 180 cm and weighs 47 kg, the same as that of Gen 2. The company equipped the robot with a 3D Lidar + depth camera, which helps to do panoramic scanning, Combined motors, core motion module, and Hollow electrical routing. These advancements give real-time data about the surroundings, enabling walking and running autonomously in complex terrains and environments.

Regarding mobility, the robot also holds a world record with a moving speed of 3.3 m/s and a potential mobility of more than 5m/s shortly. For endurance, Unitree installed a battery capacity of 846Wh, 250 times that of the iPhone 15, with a quick-replaceable option. Unitree outfitted the H1 with AI for better communication with humans, allowing the robot to analyze the commands better. 

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Digit

Founded in 2015 by Damion Shelton and friends, Agility Robotics is a robotics company that mainly uses robots to solve logistics and manufacturing problems. The company launched a new generation robot named” Digit.” This 175 cm tall robot is made of aluminum, carbon fiber composite, etc., and weighs 65 kg. This bipedal robot has advanced sensors such as Lidar, four Intel RealSense depth cameras, and MEMs with actuators such as advanced DC Motors with custom-designed transmissions.

The company also adds 16 degrees of freedom, which contains 5DoF at the leg and 3 DoF at the arm. Combining all these mechanisms makes the robot reach a moving speed of 2.2 mph and carry a payload weight of 16 kg. Digit runs on a Linux-based real-time operating system, a central control computer, and high-level planning and perception are handled on secondary computers. The company added a 1.2 kWh lithium polymer battery that runs up to 4 hours for power. The company recently integrated NLP and AI features in Digit to tackle the backend and performance. Digit is powered by two Intel i7 multi-ad CPUs and Intel NUC or Nvidia Jetson for artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks.  

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Figure 01

Figure is a new-gen AI startup that aims to build humanoid robots for daily manufacturing, logistics, and other applications. This company is backed by several tech giants, such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, and many more. Recently, Figure revealed their humanoid robot, “Figure 01.” It is the first of its kind AI autonomous robot with a height of 168 cm. This new robot weighs 60 kg and can carry a payload of 20kg. The design of the robot closely resembles that of a human, with a display screen on its face and four fingers, giving it a strikingly human-like appearance.

Its armored and shiny aluminum body further enhances its durability and resilience. With more than 41 DoF and advanced sensors and cameras, the robot can analyze and perform according to its surroundings. The robot can also reach a speed of 1.2m/s with a runtime of 5HR. The best part is the OpenAI partnership with the Figure to integrate their GPT models with the robot. This allows the robot to excel in NLP(Natural Language Processing). Figure 01 is the best robot until it can easily understand the human language and respond accordingly. 

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Phoenix 

Sanctuary AI is an AI startup that develops AI and robotics solutions for organizations. Recently, the company showcased its first humanoid robot, “Phoenix”. This new robot, with a height of 170 cm and weight of 70 kg, can carry a payload of weight capacity of 25 kg. Phoenix has an industry-leading robotic hand with over 20DoF and fine motor skills. Advanced cameras and sensors also power this robot to reach a speed of 3.1 miles per hour. The Phoenix robot is powered by Sanctuary AI’s proprietary Carbon AI control system, which enables it to understand natural language, recognize objects, and act upon voice instructions. 

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Conclusion

The emergence of advanced AI humanoid robots is a testament to the remarkable progress in robotics and artificial intelligence. From Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, with its impressive agility and dexterity, to Tesla’s Optimus Gen 2, showcasing seamless integration of AI and robotics, these cutting-edge machines are pushing the boundaries of what was once thought impossible. Unitree’s H1, Agility Robotics’ Digit, Figure 01, and Sanctuary AI’s Phoenix further exemplify the innovative strides in combining humanoid robotics with AI capabilities. As these robots continue to evolve, they hold the potential to revolutionize various industries, enhance human-robot collaboration, and pave the way for a future where intelligent machines coexist with humans, augmenting and enriching our lives in unprecedented ways.

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