Given article:
Executives from Boston Dynamics, Agility, Neura and Apptronik discuss the state of the industry at the annual Association for Advancing Automation (A3) show.
AI action "Highlights":
Key Highlights:
- Scarce humanoid presence at Automate: Only three non-working prototypes displayed, indicating a lack of widespread adoption.
- Industry skepticism: Approximately 75% of attendees at a panel discussion expressed skepticism about the humanoid form factor.
- Cautious optimism from A3: The Association for Advancing Automation hosted a panel on humanoids and plans a Humanoid Robot Forum in October.
- Investor enthusiasm: Goldman Sachs projects a $38 billion market for humanoid robots by 2035.
- Risks of overpromise: Hype cycles can lead to unrealistic expectations, especially for technologies like humanoid robots that evoke visions of personal servants.
- Limited current capabilities: Partnership announcements often involve pilots with single-digit robot deployments, indicating that market fit is yet to be established.
- Agility's readiness: The only company to confirm readiness for the next step in commercialization, with specific announcements expected in June.
- Boston Dynamics' cautious approach: Despite decades of humanoid research, the company is still in early stages and plans to focus on pilots next year.
- Diverse portfolios: Neura has a range of form factors, while Apptronik offers both legged and wheeled options.
- Benefits of legs: Humanoid robots can reach lower shelves and navigate obstacles better than wheeled counterparts.
- Safety concerns: The heavy and metallic nature of humanoid robots poses potential hazards, requiring further safety standards.
- Call for transparency in demos: Standardized demo protocols are needed to prevent misleading representations of humanoid capabilities.
woodpeng
2024-06-02