Update: This article was last updated on 24th April 2024 to reflect the accuracy and up-to-date information on the page.
Have you heard of Sophia or Jia Jia? They’re not your typical celebrity figures. They are humanoid robots designed to mimic human appearance and behavior using advanced sensors, actuators, and software. These robot “body parts” allow them to move and interact with the world in a way that resembles human movement.
Humanoid robots significantly make robotics for kids fun by providing an interactive platform for learning STEM concepts that is engaging and practical.
While some humanoid robots are designed for specific tasks, such as assisting with household chores or medical procedures, others are used for research or entertainment. Developing these robots is an exciting area of research in artificial intelligence and robotics.
HISTORICAL FACT ABOUT HUMANOID ROBOT
ASIMO, developed by Honda, was one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots when it was first introduced in 2000. It could walk, run at a speed of 6 km/h, and navigate stairs, demonstrating the significant progress in robotic mobility and balance.
What are Humanoid robots?
Humanoid robots mimic human appearance, behavior, and gestures. They’re designed with cameras, sensors, and AI to replicate human expressions and movements accurately.
In this article, we will explore 10 top humanoid robots you should know about, featuring recent popular examples.
1. Sophia
Let’s begin with Sophia the robot, who debuted on a significant day celebrated globally as Valentine’s Day. Yes, she was unveiled to the public on February 14, 2016, and just a year later, she was granted citizenship by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sophia is an impressive example of a humanoid robot, designed to resemble and communicate like a human, with emotional facial expressions.
A media favorite, she has been featured on multiple TV shows and has made headlines for her controversial remarks. Still, her latest announcement has stunned the world: Sophia desires to have a robot baby and start her own family.
Inventor: The Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics
Launch year: 2016
Height: 167 cm
2. Jia Jia
Meet China’s first humanoid robot, Jia Jia. Her realistic appearance has made her the talk of the town. Jia Jia is equipped with speech-generation algorithms and facial recognition technologies, allowing her to hold a normal conversation with a person while displaying micro facial expressions. With flowing black hair and a traditional Chinese dress, Jia Jia’s appearance is strikingly realistic.
Inventor: The University of Science and Technology research team in China
Launch year: 2016
Height: 152.4 cm
3. Pepper
Meet Pepper. She is from Japan, and she is making waves in the world of customer service. Pepper is designed to interact with people and is often used in retail to assist customers. However, she is not limited to retail – she works in various fields such as homes, shopping malls, educational institutes, offices, etc.
Pepper has various sensors that allow her to navigate her environment and interact with people naturally. She can recognize human emotions through facial expressions and voice tones, which makes her a valuable asset in situations where empathy and understanding are important.
Inventor: SoftBank Robotics
Launch Year: 2014
Height: 121 cm
4. Nadine
Nadine, created in the likeness of Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann, boasts an impressive 27 degrees of freedom for facial expressions and upper body movements. Not only can she recognize individuals she has met before, but she also retains information about their interests and past interactions.
Nadine is multilingual and can respond to questions in several languages. She displays emotions through her gestures and facial expressions, responding appropriately to the content of the conversation. With her ability to act as a personal coach and empathetic nature, Nadine can always offer guidance and support while remembering previous conversations and returning greetings with eye contact.
Inventor: Prof Nadia Magnenat Thalman (The face and hands of Nadine are created by a Japanese company Kokoro)
Launch Year: 2013
Height: 131.5 Cm
5. Philip K Dick
David Hanson paid tribute to the renowned sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick by designing a robot using extensive material from the author’s journals, letters, and published works. Sadly, the original Android model was lost during a flight from Dallas to San Francisco in 2005.
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However, in collaboration with Dutch broadcasting company VPRO, Hanson Robotics developed a new and improved version in 2011, utilizing cutting-edge computer vision technology and 36 servomotors to facilitate a wide range of complex facial expressions.
Today, the PKD robot is a valuable resource for researchers at the Apollo Mind Initiative.
Inventor: Hanson Robotics
Launch year: 2005
6. ALTER 3 (OSAKA UNIVERSITY AND MIXI)
Named Alter 3, the newest humanoid robot from Osaka University and mixi is driven by an artificial neural network and possesses a musical ear. Previous versions of Alter showcased their vocal talents in opera. In 2020, Alter 3, equipped with upgraded sensors and an enhanced vocalization system, showcased its musical prowess by conducting an orchestra at the New National Theater in Tokyo and participating in various live performances.
Inventor: Osaka University roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro and University of Tokyo artificial life researcher Takashi Ikegami
Launch year: 2018
7. APOLLO (APPTRONIK)
Apptronik’s Apollo builds on the company’s past robots like the 2022 humanoid Astro. Able to carry up to 55 pounds, Apollo works in plants and warehouses, with potential use in retail and construction. Its impact zone halts motion upon detecting nearby objects, while swappable batteries, lasting four hours each, ensure continuous productivity.
Inventor: Jeff Cardenas
Launch year: 2023
Height: 171 Cm
8. DIGIT (AGILITY ROBOTICS)
Agility Robotics’ humanoid robot, Digit, is already adept at unloading trailers and handling packages. With its fully functional limbs, Digit can squat and crouch to pick up objects, adjusting its center of gravity based on size and weight. Equipped with surface plane-reading sensors, Digit navigates efficiently, avoiding obstacles in its path. In 2019, Agility collaborated with Ford to trial autonomous package delivery. Recently, the company secured $150 million in funding from Amazon and other firms to further integrate Digit into the workforce, marking a significant step toward expanding its capabilities and applications.
Inventor: Damion Shelton
Launch year: 2024
Height: 172 Cm
9. OCEANONE (STANFORD ROBOTICS LAB)
A humanoid robot named OceanOne, developed by the Stanford Robotics Lab, is diving into shipwrecks. In its debut in 2016, OceanOne explored the Mediterranean Sea near France’s coast to investigate the sunken ship La Lune, dating back to 1664 during King Louis XIV’s era. The latest version, OceanOneK, can dive deeper, reaching depths of 1,000 meters. Equipped with haptic feedback and AI, OceanOneK can handle tools and equipment underwater. It has already conducted explorations on sunken planes and ships.
Inventor: Professor Oussama Khatib
Launch year: 2016
10. PHOENIX (SANCTUARY AI)
Sanctuary AI’s humanoid robot, Phoenix, features hands resembling those of humans and can lift up to 55 pounds. This makes it valuable in roles facing labor shortages. Being controllable, supervised, and trainable by humans, Phoenix showcases versatility by tackling tasks across different environments. These humanoid robots are both interesting and intriguing. Such innovations make you marvel at the creativity of human minds, which is constantly exploring new technologies.
Inventor: Geordie Rose
Launch year: 2023
Height: 172 Cm
In conclusion, humanoid robots are becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives, and these 10 top humanoid robots are just a few examples of the incredible advancements that have been made in this field. As technology continues to evolve, more humanoid robots are being developed and utilized in various settings.
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