How AI is Driving the Evolution of Humanoid Robots
Robots cover a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and models that serve different purposes and have grown considerably since the 1970s, but when we think of robots we tend to imagine humanoid counterparts that resemble humans. Unlike industrial robotics, these humanoid robots evoke the future and offer the clearest glimpse into the fusion of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and humanity.
AI specifically plays a massive role in the development of humanoid robotics, acting as the brain to their mechanical bodies, but, while many Hollywood films tend to exacerbate fear of of these machines, there are many ways that AI and robotics are coming together to create a practical evolution in humanoid robotics.
The Basics of AI in Robotics
AI is important to the advancement of robotics because it provides machines with the ability to process information in a similar way to humans. These models use algorithms created with machine and deep learning that are capable of analyzing large amounts of information in real time, providing humanoid robots with essential input data needed to navigate environments and communicate with humans.
Unlike traditional programming, AI models are designed to grow and learn from past successes and mistakes. This self-evaluation helps spur continuous learning which helps machines improve the accuracy of their outputs and perform better over time, creating evolutionary progress for AI.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between AI and Humanoid Robots
The fusion between robotics and AI has led to many considerable innovations in physical humanoid design. AI helps these machines become more dexterous, using navigational algorithms and computer vision to help machines leverage joints and limbs to traverse uneven and difficult terrain. Sensors can do more than just provide audio and visual stimuli too. Tactical sensors can help a machine develop a sense of touch which gives it more advanced abilities like intricate hand gripping.
Humanoid robots can do more than just mimic human movements though. AI is also helping to develop human-like emotions and cognitive thinking with the development of affective computing and natural language processing (NLP). Both of these aspects of AI can be used to install powerful emotional capabilities into humanoid robotics that help it create more meaningful interactions.
Key Areas Where AI is Making a Difference
The integration of AI can be seen in many various aspects of humanoid robotic design. As AI becomes closer and closer to human-like thinking, its application in robotics also grows. Some examples include:
Motion and Movement: Bi-pedal movement is a complex process that is rarely seen outside of the human race in nature. It requires advanced algorithms and sensors to not only navigate routes but also maintain balance on two legs (especially when carrying something).
Perception and Interaction: Visual and auditory perception is incredibly important for humanoid robots because humans rely heavily on those sensory inputs. Not only do they require complex cameras and microphones, but they also need real-time analysis to create accurate responses to stimuli.
Learning and Adaptation: Just like humans, AI algorithms need to constantly learn and adapt to their environment. This requires advanced machine learning models that can identify and react to new patterns when encountering new scenarios.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Humanoid robots pose many intense challenges before they can resemble the perfect working machine. There are still many hardware limitations that prevent machines from completely resembling their human counterparts. AI processing requires significant computational power and it will be a long time before we can install a CPU that is powerful enough to operate an entire humanoid robot with all of the various algorithms necessary.
However, this could lead to an interesting commercial opportunity with different humanoid models being fitted out with low-powered CPUs that are designed to process certain algorithms for specific tasks like customer service. In this case, different adaptations of the same model for separate purposes could create beneficial market opportunities for robotic suppliers. Then, advanced models could be offered with more powerful CPUs that can execute a wider range of commands for more discerning customers who need advanced capabilities.
Future Prospects
There are many predictions that we can make about the future of humanoid robots, but one thing is clear - they will have a seismic impact on human society. Social integration has been a challenge for humanity since we first started forming civilizations. Discrimination, social strife, segregation, to full blown genocide have marred various cultural groups throughout history and it’s hard to argue that the same will not happen to humanoid robots.
Humanoid robots present a very real fear of cataclysmic economic shifts, risking blue-collar jobs around the world with their ability to work harder and faster in the most extreme conditions without the need for human resources; but this doesn’t mean that they deserve to be mistreated. Integrating robots into our society will take effort, but the rewards will outweigh the overblown fears of AI if we learn to work together and learn to coexist with our sentient creations.
