From the home to the workplace, and to the sky above, robots in 2022 are transubstantiating the world,
we know, and helping us understand the worlds we do n’t.
Let’s highlight a few of these remarkable machines and how they might transform not
only how we interact with ourselves, but
also the universe around us.
So, the
10 most advanced robots at this moment!
1. Xenobots
Some lists like to end on a big and splashy entry but that’s
not our style. We’re going to end this
video on the tiniest robot on our list.
But don’t let their size fool you, these little guys could end up having a bigger impact on our
lives
than all the other robots on this list combined.
Meet the Xenobots, living, programmable organisms!
Xenobots are synthetic organisms made from embryonic stem cells of the African clawed
frog
(Xenopus laevis),
hence the name — Xenobots.
how you define a robot,
Xenobots aren't the C3PO archetype you're visioning,
but they are undeniably machines. They are created
by computers to perform specific functions.
Individually, they can complete simple tasks,
but the real potential for Xenobots is their ability to cooperate with each other to
perform more complex undertakings.
Scientists envision Xenobots as a means to deliver medication to specific parts of the body,
scrape plaque from arteries,
and could even be used at scale for environmental remediation like removing plastics from the
ocean.
And since Xenobots are organic cells, they are not pollutants or toxins.
Once their job is diligently completed and they exhaust
their available nutrients, they simply
biodegrade in the environment like all living cells.
So far Xenobots have
been taught to walk, swim, push pellets, carry payloads,
and work together in a swarm to aggregate debris scattered along the surface
of a dish into neat piles.
We are just at the
inception of this incredible technology but it’s safe to say, you will be hearing
more about these little guys in the
years to come.
2. British Loyal Wingman
If we are integrating robots into our kitchens,
our bodies, and sending them into space, it makes perfect sense the military is getting in
on the action too.
The British government
recently announced plans to build a prototype
loyal wingman-type unmanned aircraft by 2023, with Spirit AeroSystems winning
the
$41 million contract to design the new fighter. We’ve had
unmanned drones in military operations
for decades now, but this new generation will be faster, smarter, and more
autonomous.
The loyal wingman is intended to provide the human pilots who fly alongside it
with additional protection, intelligence, and enhanced survivability odds during missions.
3. Vicarious Medical Robot
According to Allied Market Research, the robotic surgery
market is worth approximately $90
billion.
It’s no surprise that there are many
exciting new companies springing up to capitalize on the market size and the untapped potential
of
integrating new technologies like virtual reality and 5G wireless into healthtech.
One of those exciting new companies is Bill Gates backed Vicarious Surgical. Having
raised ,
$ 40 million, Vicarious Surgical’s charge is to transport
surgeons inside the case to perform,
minimally invasive surgery using personal mortal-suchlike
surgical robots and virtual reality.
4. Guardian XO Exoskeleton
If
you’ve ever dreamed of an Ironman power suit of your own,
Sarcos Robotics should be on your radar.
Although you can’t shoot laser beams out of your hands or
fly on rockets in your feet,
Sarcos’s Guardian XO Exoskeleton bestows us mere mortals
with the power of superhuman strength —
at least until the battery runs out.
Able to enhance human strength up to 20X (with a maximum lift of 200lbs),
the Guardian XO
Exoskeleton has applications across dozens
of industries.
Everything from manufacturing, warehouses, and defense are looking to
integrate exoskeletons into their
operations.
And with a lease
price of $100K per year,
it
looks like the science fiction promise
of exoskeletons might finally be a reality.
The Guardian XO full- body exoskeleton is the world's first
battery-powered artificial robot to combine mortal intelligence,
instinct,
and judgment with the power,
endurance,
and precision of machines.
Set to transfigure the way work gets done,
the Guardian XO artificial exoskeleton augments driver
strength without confining freedom of movement to boost productivity while
dramatically reducing injuries.
Born of a fundamental need to safely enable humans to be
more productive,
while significantly reducing the threat of occupational
injury.
Uniquely suited for safer,
more productive
manufacturing/assembly,
construction, field service,
and warehouse/logistics use cases.
5. Atlas by Boston Dynamics
We have yet another entry in this
list from the amazing minds at Boston Dynamics — Atlas,
the world’s most dynamic humanoid robot.
The Atlas disaster- response robot made its public debut on 11
July 2013,
in the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC). Back then, Atlas was a bruiser, coming in at
6’2”,
weighing 330lbs, and tethered to an external power supply and computer system.
Since then, Atas has evolved into something more like a ballet dancer. Measuring a little
less
than 5’ and weighing 187lbs,
Atlas has near human
articulation and is capable of operating without a tether.
And we would be remiss not to mention that Atlas also has some pretty sick dance
moves.
6. Digit by Agility Robotics
Staying in the vein of robots designed for industrial
applications,
Digit, made by
Agility Robotics is a vaguely human-shaped robot, albeit missing a head.
Packed with sensors
and two arms and two legs,
Digit is capable of navigating complex environments
that other robot laborers would struggle
with.
So basically it is a humanoid robot designed to move in a more dynamic fashion than
regular robots do.
It has nimble limbs
and a torso packed with sensors that will allow it to navigate complex
environments and carry out tasks like
package delivery.
Able to walk, run, or climb stairs — and with the relatively modest price tag of $250K —
Digit is shaping up to be a major contender in the race to automate workplace manual labor.
7. Spot by Boston Dynamics
If robotic kitchens and butlers appeal to you,
then how about a robot dog? Boston Dynamics,
a company that cannot be ignored when talking about robotics, developed the multipurpose
robot dog Spot.
Spot isn’t really intended to be a personal pet. With a base price tag of
$74.5K,
Spot is meant for industrial purposes.
Spot can get into
tight squeezes in mines or construction sites and areas that might be dangerous
for human inspectors.
But if you are looking for a pet robot dog,
Unitree offers a similar offering to Spot at a greatly reduced size and price.
Coming
in at little under $10K, Unitree Robotics A1 could be your new loyal companion,
with
significantly less doggy mess to clean up.
Developed by Boston Dynamics,
Spot is a four-legged robot designed to be rugged and customizable.
It’s well suited for unshaped surroundings and is completely
able of climbing stairs and covering rough terrain.
Weighing about 32.5 kg, it avoids obstacles,
performs a large number of
programmed tasks.
Spot can go where humans cannot!
Spot’s protean capabilities are adding value in wide variety
of operations,
in dangerous ornon-hazardous areas ( powers, construction, manufactories
…), including
✓ Remote sensing and inspection
✓ Construction and
environmental monitoring
✓ Site documentation and data collection
✓ Leak discovery (radiation,
gas, canvas, water …)
8. Toyota’s Robotic Butler
If a
robotic kitchen and a Roomba aren’t enough,
the brilliant minds at Toyota Research Institute (TRI) have you covered. Inspired by Japan’s
aging population,
engineers
at TRI conceived of building a home
designed to operate a robotic butler.
It can do everything from cleaning surfaces to gently opening a drink for you.
The downside of this design is that the robotic butler requires scaffolding
on the ceiling or walls of every room
the robot will operate in.
They are working on developing a robot butler that can function without scaffolding but it will
suffer from the same mobility issues with
stairs and obstacles that other home robots have.
While building your home with scaffolding for a hanging robot may not be the most aesthetically pleasing design,
it
does offer hope to our aging population
that they can remain living in their own homes for longer,
with a robotic butler
on 24-hour standby for whatever they
might need.
9. Moley the Robotic Chef
Let’s come down from the stars above and look at something a little closer to
home — your kitchen.
Meet Moley, the world’s first fully robotic kitchen.
While Moley is a far cry
from the magic of food replicators in Star Trek,
it might be the next best thing. With two robotic arms,
Moley will cook complete meals for you, tell you when ingredients need
replacing,
suggest dishes based on the ingredients you have available, learn what you like,
and even tidy up kitchen surfaces if it makes a mess.
Moley also comes in a lighter version that lacks robotic
arms but offers touch screens, smart appliances,
and a recipe database.
For this setup, the price tag is a modest $135K.
For the full setup
with robotic arms,
because of course that’s what everyone wants,
you’re looking to pay in the range of $340K.
10. Mars Perseverance & Ingenuity
Mars is a planet exclusively populated by robots.
The 2 editions to the Martian robot family are,
NASA’s new rover
Perseverance,
and it’s remarkable cargo — the Mars Helicopter,
Ingenuity. Perseverance will have a familiar look to
many,
given the popularity of earlier Martian rovers like Opportunity, Spirit,
and Curiosity to name
a few.
Packed with sensors, drills, and collection tools,
Perseverance is a technological marvel,
but Ingenuity represents something altogether different.
Imagination will be the first manmade object to attempt
flight in the ultrathin Martian atmosphere.
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