As we speak, Figure is introducing the latest, slimmest, shiniest, and least creatively named subsequent era of its humanoid robot: Determine 02. Based on the press launch, Determine 02 is the results of “a ground-up {hardware} and software program redesign” and is “the best performing humanoid robotic,” which can even be true for some arbitrary worth of “performing.” Additionally notable is that Determine has been actively testing robots with BMW at a producing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the place the brand new humanoid has been performing “information assortment and use case coaching.”
The remainder of the press launch is just about, “hey, take a look at our new robotic!” And also you’ll get the entire content material within the launch by watching the movies. What you gained’t get from the movies is any additional information concerning the robotic. However we despatched alongside some inquiries to Determine about these movies, and have a number of solutions from Michael Rose, director of controls, and Vadim Chernyak, director of {hardware}.
First, the trailer:
What number of elements does Determine 02 have, and is that this all of them?
Determine: A pair hundred distinctive elements and a pair thousand elements complete. No, this isn’t all of them.
Does Determine 02 make little Determine logos with each step?
Determine: If the floor is gentle sufficient, sure.
Swappable legs! Was that onerous to do, or simpler to do since you solely must make one leg? Determine: We selected to make swappable legs to assist with manufacturing.
Is the battery pack swappable too?
Determine: Our battery is swappable, however it isn’t a fast swap process.
What’s that squishy-looking stuff on the again of Determine 02’s knees and in its elbow joints?
Determine: These are gentle stops which restrict the vary of movement in a managed manner and stop robotic pinch factors
The place’d you disguise that thumb motor?
Determine: The thumb is now absolutely contained within the hand.
Inform me concerning the “pores and skin” on the neck!
Determine: The pores and skin is a gentle cloth which is ready to preserve a clear seamless look even because the robotic strikes its head.
And right here’s the reveal video:
When Determine 02’s head turns, its physique turns too, and its arms transfer. Is that vital, or aesthetic?
Determine: Aesthetic.
The higher torso and shoulders appear very slender in comparison with different humanoids. Why is that?
Determine: We discover it important to package deal the robotic to be of comparable proportions to a human. This enables us to finish our goal use circumstances and match into the environment extra simply.
What are you able to inform me about Determine 02’s strolling gait?
Determine: The robotic is utilizing a mannequin predictive controller to find out footstep areas and forces required to take care of stability and comply with the specified robotic trajectory.
How a lot runtime do you get from 2.25 KWh doing the sorts of duties that we see within the video?
Determine: We’re concentrating on a 5 hour run time for our product.
Slick, but additionally just a little sinister?Determine
This factor seems to be slick. I’d say that it’s possibly just a little too far on the sinister aspect for a robotic meant to work round different people, however the industrial design is badass and the packaging is great, with the overwhelming majority of the wiring now built-in throughout the robotic’s skins and versatile supplies masking joints which can be sometimes left naked. Determine, for those who keep in mind, raised a US $675 million Series B that valued the company at $2.6 billion, and someway the look of this robotic appears applicable to that.
I do nonetheless have some questions on Determine 02, reminiscent of the place the attention-grabbing foot design got here from and whether or not a 16 DoF hand is de facto price it within the close to time period. It’s additionally price mentioning that Determine appears to have a good variety of Determine 02 robots operating round—a minimum of 5 models at their California headquarters, plus probably a pair extra on the BMW Spartanburg manufacturing facility.
I additionally wish to spotlight this boilerplate on the finish of the discharge: “our humanoid is designed to carry out human-like duties throughout the workforce and within the residence.” We’re very, very distant from a humanoid robot within the residence, however I recognize that it’s nonetheless an express purpose that Determine is attempting to realize. As a result of I need one.
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