Are we really running out of helium?
At the same time,
Zouganeli points out that the robots shown in demonstrations can appear more
intelligent than they are. We might see a robot that talks, understands what is being said, and performs a task, as in the video of Figure 01.
“But here, the
context is defined, and the environment is relatively simple – a table with
objects, a person asking questions, and asking the robot to do something. Not
much else happens,” she says.
Zouganeli adds that the robot would
hardly perform as well in an uncontrolled and unstructured environment where the
context is unknown and complex.
"Robots still don't have a comprehensive understanding of everyday situations; they don't grasp what is going on, the
intentions of the people around them, intended and unintended consequences, and
so on,” she says.
If robots are
really going to be useful, they should be able to perform complex tasks and
function reliably in an unstructured environment, such as on a street or
in a private home, says Zouganeli.
“In these
situations, they have to be able to perceive context, have a sufficiently
nuanced perception of human and material values, a certain understanding of
risk, and be able to foresee consequences,” she says. “We're not there
yet, but progress is being made."
Most are initially aiming to create robots for environments that are characterised by routine.
Where are all the self-driving cars?
In theory, smart and autonomous
humanoid robots could provide labour where there are shortages, help
the elderly with household tasks, or function as an assistant.
Not everyone agrees
that the technology is ready yet.
“Many have recently
invested in companies that work with human-like robots. But there are still
some who are sceptical and believe that we are too far off,” says Ellefsen.
Apple is instead
investing in a small, wheel-based device that can follow you around at home, he adds.
“What makes me most
sceptical is that we saw the same hype for self-driving cars ten years ago,” says Ellefsen.
“We've long believed that self-driving cars were close to being robust enough for
all kinds of situations, but we haven’t gotten there yet. Training a
self-driving car is very similar to training a home robot.”
To be tested by car manufacturers
If robots can't
drive cars, maybe they can help make them.
The company Apptronik
has entered into an agreement with Mercedes-Benz. The car manufacturer will
test the robot Apollo.
Apollo will, among other tasks, deliver parts to people working on the production line, according
to The Verge.
Another player is
Boston Dynamics. Over the years, they have impressed people with their
extremely athletic robots.
A new version of
the Atlas robot will be tested at Hyundai, Boston Dynamics
announced in April.
Watch the company's
previous version of Atlas perform parkour in the video below.
China is also
betting on this technology. The country's Ministry of Industry and Information
Technology aims to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025, according to the South China Morning
Post.
See more active humanoid
robots in a list from Built In.
Thinks the robots are coming
Experts that sciencenorway.no
has spoken to believe that human-like robots will be performing jobs in society within a few years.
In a podcast from
the beginning of 2023, Morten Goodwin predicted that assistant robots would
arrive within five years, by 2028.
Assistant robots function autonomously, meaning they control themselves and can perform simple
tasks upon receiving instructions from humans.
"This doesn't mean these robots will be everywhere, but it will be a product available for purchase. It will take several years before they become commonplace," says Goodwin.
Gradual development
Kai Olav Ellefsen
also believes that humanoid robots will be put to work within a few years.
Part of the reason
for this, according to Ellefsen, is that many companies are adopting a strategy of gradual implementation. Robots will initially work in environments where they are most likely to succeed.
This involves structured and
standardised tasks, such as in warehouses or factories.
"From there, they will move into more complex environments, like hospitals, and eventually into homes, where many unforeseen events can occur and mistakes can have significant consequences," he says.
The speed of development will depend on how widely the first robots are adopted, Zouganeli suggests.
“These robots are
going to cost a lot to begin with. It's a chicken-and-egg situation. The more they are used, the cheaper they will become, allowing for the development of more
advanced versions for more challenging tasks in complex
environments,” she says.
“We are likely to see human-centric robots in packaging, sorting, storage, distribution, light
industry, and production soon,” she predicts.
Gradually, there
will likely be more applications with specialised tasks, such as office or hospital staff, Zouganeli believes.
“In the long term, we may also see robot assistants as a
shared resource in nursing homes and care facilities,” she says.
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