Imagine a future where you can buy a robot to help you with household chores. Recent advances in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence suggest that we’re getting closer to witnessing something like that first-hand. 1X, an AI robotics company with offices and laboratories in the U.S. and Norway, has recently unveiled a humanoid robot called NEO Beta.
This robot is a prototype of an autonomous biped robot designed for domestic use. While we’ve seen similar projects before, 1X promises something different: The company claims to have moved beyond conceptual development and is ready to start deploying its robot in homes on a trial basis.
A Humanoid Robot for the Home
Specifically, 1X claims that NEO will be able to assist with various household tasks, including running errands, cleaning, and organizing items. The company explains that its robot closely resembles humans in many ways. Not only can it move through different parts of the house by climbing stairs and opening doors, but its hydraulics can also move objects gently or with great force.
This autonomous robot is 5.41 feet tall, weighs 66 pounds, and can carry up to 154 pounds. Additionally, it has a battery life of 2 to 4 hours on a full charge. The device is equipped with multiple sensors that power an AI system. 1X uses a method the company refers to as “embodied learning.” With this method, a teleoperator connects to the robot and provides a demonstration of how to perform a certain task for the robot to learn from.
NEO is designed to operate autonomously in various scenarios, with the option for a teleoperator to take control if necessary. The upcoming trial deployment of the prototype is aimed at testing the technology in real-world environments before a wider rollout.
The company plans to mass-produce NEO to meet potential global demand. These plans are reminiscent of Elon Musk’s vision for a future where humanoid robots are widely desired, but many questions about NEO’s capabilities remain unanswered.
Currently, it’s unclear how many features NEO will have. In a demo video released by 1X, you can see NEO handing a backpack to a young girl. This is similar to what Figure demonstrated with its robot, called Figure 01, which can communicate naturally with humans and organize various items. As a matter of fact, some of Figure’s advanced units are already operational in BMW factories.
Image | 1X
Related | Figure’s Humanoid Robot Can Already Work Autonomously, So BMW Put It to Task
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