While Tesla’s Optimus robot demonstrates new sorting and balancing capabilities on one leg, Singapore-based company Fourier Intelligence has released a new video showing the production process of its GR-1 super-powered humanoid robot. Fourier claims that the GR-1 can support an incredible 50 kg (110 lb) thanks to a particularly powerful pair of robotic hips in the form of two hip actuators with 300 Nm of torque.

But its arms and hands appear to be quite weak, and the company has announced its intention to develop this robot into a rehabilitation therapy assistant with handles on its waist that will help people get out of wheelchairs and beds. So there is a possibility that these loads will be transported there.

Today, the company released a video of its manufacturing facility showing not only assembling the robots but also winding coils in custom-made actuators, 3D printing kits for body parts, and torsoless arms that clearly mimicked human movements in one test. something like a workbench and a hand controller for a robot. Take a look at this:

This may be a subtle response to Agility’s announcement last week that its upcoming RoboFab facility in Salem, Oregon, will be “the world’s first humanoid robot manufacturing facility.” GR-1 humanoids will reach customers by the end of the year.

On the other hand, Tesla is not talking about production yet; but as a company it has certainly made great strides in automotive manufacturing.

Instead, Fourier sent the GR-1 to a series of research and development partners, essentially hoping to gain diverse perspectives on how to train and develop the robot; Tesla, on the other hand, is working on autonomous operations and building the robot’s capabilities on its own. . Robot Optimus.

Thanks to the same high-tech, star-based computers that Tesla uses in its “Fully Self-Driving” autopilot system, Optimus can now precisely determine the position of his hands and feet and calibrate their position in space just by looking at them. Tesla claims that this self-calibration system helps the robot learn new tasks more effectively.

One such task is to collect a group of blocks and separate them into different cells based on their colors; the robot seems to do this with great confidence, seamlessly changing its route when humans intervene and moving the blocks, and demonstrating the ability to correct errors when the blocks move. is not positioned correctly.

Things are moving pretty slowly right now; Most feature video is delivered at 150% speed. But the movements look deliberate, precise, and fluid, and Optimus’ hands seem to work well. And balance definitely isn’t an issue: The video ends with a few smooth single-leg yoga poses that many people have trouble replicating. See:

As the South Park crew can tell you, both Optimus and GR-1 are still walking around with their pants on. Indeed, even after a decade of research, parkour, dance and gymnastics, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot still moves like its diaper needs to be checked. It will be interesting to see how quickly this situation improves in the coming years, given the influx of capital into the sector.

Companies that introduce general-purpose humanoids that perform useful functions safely and reliably and learn new tasks quickly and efficiently may find themselves in an unprecedented position. As these robots scale, they promise to become the workforce of tomorrow, cheaper and less complex than humans, capable of performing multiple tasks at any time of day, pausing only to recharge their batteries.

It is an extraordinary technology and turning point for our species, with highly uncertain consequences. Source