Sep 18, 2024
Why are we talking so much about humanoid robots lately?
Artificial intelligence
The concept of humanoid robots can be found in extremely old stories and legends. But what exactly are they? A humanoid robot seeks to mimic the appearance and capabilities of a human body. Among other things, it can move in environments designed for humans, use tools or devices, and communicate with us.
Before their scientific development, human-like robots were mainly found in theater, literature, cinema, and folklore. Initially products of our imagination, they have long represented the technological ideal to be achieved. So why are they suddenly making headlines?
Where do they come from?
First of all, a little history lesson seems appropriate. Although Karel Čapek is credited with introducing the term “robot” in 1921 in a play called R.U.R., the first appearance of a humanoid robot dates back to 1900, in a short film by George Méliès, Coppelia: The Animated Doll. In this film, now lost to the archives, a young man falls in love with a woman, only to discover that she is not human but a machine. Does this scenario remind you of more recent ones?
Since the 1970s, prototypes of humanoid robots have emerged. Despite rapid technological innovations, their performance remained disappointing and inferior to that of a human being. However, all that is changing.
The era of humanoid robots and AGI
With the significant advances in artificial intelligence in recent years, some companies have been able to perfect their collaborative robot models. Last March, the whole world watched with surprise and amazement the video of OpenAI featuring a humanoid robot, Figure, powered by artificial intelligence. In the recording, it responded vocally to a human’s questions, could execute their requests, was equipped with a vision system, and had analytical capabilities. In short, the robot shown by OpenAI possesses great visual and linguistic intelligence, which we have never seen before.
If this is the future of factory automation, we are not yet at AGI (artificial general intelligence). AGI means that the tool equals or surpasses human capabilities in a wide range of cognitive tasks. It differs from narrow artificial intelligence, which is designed for specific tasks.
I specify this because robots have been used in factories for many years, even decades. The thing is, most of them are single-use, meaning they are designed to perform a single specific task and repeat it; this is the principle of automation. On production lines, they work wonders.
What OpenAI and many other companies are trying to accomplish is the creation of a humanoid robot that can think for itself, take initiative regarding tasks to be performed, analyze situations, and correct errors. And only then could we reach what science fiction has been tantalizing us with for over a century! Beyond factory automation, these robots could become part of our daily lives.
Today’s robots and automation
The most advanced technology we regularly see in factories is collaborative robots. Those machines can work alongside employees safely. They are different from ordinary robots that are unaware of their environment and will continue the task they have to perform, even in the event of an accident. Thanks to advanced sensors and control systems, collaborative robots will detect human presence and stop or slow their movements if necessary.
Coming out of the pandemic, great needs for automation of production lines were revealed, leading to increased demand for collaborative robots. The market analysis done by Interact Analysis even predicts an annual growth of 27% over the next 5 years.
International competition is robotizing rapidly, with China taking the lead. In 2003, Amazon alone deployed 750,000 robots into its operations. To put this number into perspective, consider that in the entire province of Quebec in 2022, there were 7,500 industrial robots in operation.
The integration of robotics technologies has become essential for the manufacturing industry. Delaying its adoption is a self-defeating move, as increased productivity and competitiveness depend on it. Robots ensure consistent and quality production, reducing errors related to human fatigue and decreasing downtime. And don’t forget: they are not there to replace workers but to assist them by facilitating and modernizing their work.
In summary, collaborative robots offer clear benefits in terms of profitability, productivity, and flexibility while also improving working conditions and employee satisfaction. Who would want to miss out on that?
While we wait for humanoid robots to take over stores and public places, let's begin by integrating readily available technology and automating our processes!
