The hottest Robotics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Humanoids and yet more humanoids

Robots & Startups • 99 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Manufacturing
  1. Robotics companies are choosing to set up manufacturing in the US to take advantage of the favorable environment and support, with Agility Robotics being a notable example.
  2. The EV industry is providing a significant boost to the development and growth of robotics companies focusing on automation and humanoids.
  3. The trend towards automating food production, as seen with Uber's Travis Kalanick, indicates a growing interest in leveraging technology to revolutionize traditional industries.

What will it take to build a Mars habitat?

Space Ambition • 259 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
🔬 Science Space Exploration Astrobiology Engineering Robotics Environmental Science
  1. Building a habitat on Mars involves solving problems like radiation protection. Solutions include using Martian soil for shielding or growing special fungi that can handle radiation.
  2. We can use new technologies like 3D printing to create living spaces on Mars. This approach helps make building easier and can also be applied to sustainable construction on Earth.
  3. Producing oxygen on Mars is crucial because its atmosphere is mainly carbon dioxide. NASA has developed a device that can extract oxygen from the Martian air, which is an important step for future colonization.

Will the debate between "AI skeptics" and "AI optimists" reach a definite resolution soon?

The Future of Life • 19 implied HN points • 03 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Robotics
  1. There are two main views on AI: some believe it's about to change everything quickly, while others think it's not as advanced as people say.
  2. If AI keeps improving rapidly, it could replace a lot of jobs and change how businesses operate, but if it slows down, many may not find it useful.
  3. Even with advancements, there might always be disagreements about whether AI is truly intelligent or just copying human behavior.

Integration

Superficial Intelligence • 13 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Edge Computing Data Integration Robotics
  1. Current edge AI can turn data from sensors into useful information, but it often misses the real 'intelligence' needed to act on that information effectively.
  2. To create smarter systems, we need to integrate sensor data over time and build context-aware applications, not just rely on simple thresholds.
  3. It's important to make advanced tools for building intelligent systems available to more engineers so that anyone can create solutions for real-world problems.
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Bootstrapping Berry Bot: 'from revenue to robot'

Robots & Startups • 19 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Startups Robotics Beauty industry Manufacturing Investing
  1. The beauty and wellness robotics industry is growing, with Berry Bot being a soap making robot that showcases the potential for automation in the sector.
  2. The global personal care and beauty market is significantly larger than the industrial robot market, providing ample opportunity for innovation and growth.
  3. Berry Bot, a smart system for making natural soaps, highlights the importance of scalability and automation in the production process for success in the industry.

Who is the Henry Ford of robotics?

Robots & Startups • 19 implied HN points • 29 May 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Innovation Conferences
  1. The development of robotics is paralleling the early days of commercial automobile rollout, showing similarities in market growth
  2. Current robotics growth is hindered by resource capacity, but this constraint is expected to ease leading to rapid company expansions, notably in humanoid robotics
  3. The field of robotics is seeing advancements in AI learning, which raises questions about its impact on robotics and how different communities can leverage these technologies

Humanoids hit a critical mass moment!

Robots & Startups • 79 implied HN points • 16 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Innovation
  1. Humanoid robots are becoming more affordable as the cost of their components decreases.
  2. At the IEEE Humanoids event in Austin, Texas, many robotics companies discussed plans to make their robots commercially available in 2024.
  3. The weight of humanoid robots is decreasing, which could impact their sales price in the future.

Kickoff of 2024 SVR Robotics Accelerator

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Robotics Investment Events Startups Sensors
  1. Kickoff meeting for the SVR Startup Accelerator is happening on January 30th for robotics startups at any stage.
  2. Private equity investors like Resurge Growth Partners are offering struggling startups a second chance amid a drop-off in VC funding.
  3. Luxonis has introduced the OAK-Thermal for pre-order, expanding its platform with a thermal sensor for numerous potential applications.

Benchmarking humanoid robots begins!

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Autonomous Vehicles Startup Innovation
  1. 2024 is set to see the commercial release of several new humanoid robots, advancing capabilities in manufacturing, logistics, and retail.
  2. Benchmarking for humanoid robots is crucial for determining their success - factors like endurance and dexterity are key, surpassing simple speed comparisons.
  3. Industry leaders stress the importance of establishing common benchmarks in the field to support the emerging market and drive innovation.

Last Week in AI #226: OpenAI lawsuits, NASA to explore AI on spaceships, OpenAI vs. Microsoft, generated content flooding the Internet, and more!

Last Week in AI • 178 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Facial Recognition Regulation Social media
  1. OpenAI is facing a class action lawsuit over data usage, highlighting the need for clearer regulations in AI development.
  2. NASA is exploring AI interfaces for spaceships, allowing for natural language interactions and collaborative learning for astronauts.
  3. OpenAI plans to create a 'supersmart personal assistant for work,' potentially entering into competition with Microsoft and its customers.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #83

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 95 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🔬 Science Nuclear Energy Robotics Gene-editing
  1. The House approved a bipartisan bill to boost nuclear energy, aiming for efficient licensing and embracing advanced nuclear technologies.
  2. Figure, a robotics firm, secured a $675 million Series B, valued at $2.6 billion, and is collaborating with OpenAI to develop humanoid robots.
  3. Astro Mechanica introduced the world's first electric-adaptive jet engine, promising efficient operations for payloads, revolutionizing space transportation.

Portubots and Englifleshes: Why comparative advantage won't ensure humans always have jobs

Philosophy bear • 92 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy AI Economics Robotics
  1. Comparative advantage theory doesn't guarantee that humans will always have jobs, even if robots are better at everything.
  2. In a world where robots excel at tasks, they will specialize in areas of greater efficiency, leaving tasks with smaller disadvantages for humans.
  3. Human labor being displaced by machines poses challenges, and comparative advantage alone may not ensure employment for humans in all scenarios.

Remembering Brandon Gilles Founder of Luxonis

Robots & Startups • 99 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Artificial Intelligence Health tech
  1. Brandon Gilles, founder of Luxonis, passed away from Long Covid complications, leaving behind a legacy in spatial AI and robotic vision.
  2. He documented his illness and recovery pathways for others facing similar situations.
  3. To learn more about Brandon Gilles' work and contributions, a subscription to Robots & Startups is available with a 7-day free trial.

NVIDIA, BYD, Figure, 1x, Sanctuary, Apptronik, OpenAI, Intuitive Machines, Groq & Google

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Automotive Robotics Innovation Events
  1. The global robotics and AI landscape is rapidly evolving with companies like NVIDIA, BYD, Figure, OpenAI, and others making significant advancements.
  2. BYD's disruptive entry in the electric vehicle market is causing concern among legacy automakers due to their low production costs and competitive pricing.
  3. Groq and Google are making waves in the AI sector with Groq showcasing impressive speed on their inference API and Google introducing a new family of open-source AI models.

LLM links

In My Tribe • 136 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Customer Service Language Models Artificial Intelligence
  1. Chatbots like Gemini can reflect biases based on data sources - having diverse datasets can prevent skewed outcomes.
  2. Human brains and Large Language Models (LLMs) share similarities in predicting and processing information.
  3. AI assistants like Klarna's are proving effective in handling customer service inquiries, improving efficiency, and customer experience.

1x, Stretch 3, Hippo Harvest, Jacobi Robotics, OpenAI and Earthgrid

Robots & Startups • 39 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Tech industry Startups
  1. Consumer mistrust and potential legal issues may arise with AI in robotics, similar to the Air Canada chatbot case
  2. OpenAI's recent deal values the company at over $80 billion, tripling its worth and positioning it as one of the most valuable tech startups globally
  3. Stretch 3 by Hello Robot is a new home robot designed to assist with tasks like folding laundry, showcasing advancements in AI

What is the hype cycle for robotics?

Robots & Startups • 119 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Robotics
  1. The Hype Cycle is a visual representation of the stages a technology passes through, from initial development to widespread adoption. It helps track which technologies align with an organization's requirements.
  2. There are five stages in the Hype Cycle that technologies undergo as they evolve and mature.
  3. Subscribing to Robots & Startups offers a 7-day free trial to access more content and stay updated on the latest in the robotics industry.

Things to know about the Tesla Bot.

Jon’s Newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Manufacturing Automation Innovation
  1. Tesla is making a humanoid robot called the Tesla Bot, or Optimus, which is expected to cost under $20,000 and be available for orders in about five years.
  2. This robot is designed to take on boring, repetitive, or dangerous tasks, like mowing lawns or helping elderly people.
  3. Tesla is building all the parts for the robot in-house, giving them a potential edge in manufacturing compared to other companies working on robots.

UX Roundup: World Usability Day | Bits to Atoms | Doing vs. Learning | AI Denial

Jakob Nielsen on UX • 9 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI UX Robotics Education Usability
  1. World Usability Day is on November 14, and it's a chance to appreciate good design. Instead of only pointing out bad usability, try to share something that has made your experience better.
  2. Humanoid robots like Tesla's Optimus could become a reality within the next 5 to 10 years. These robots are being designed to closely mimic human movements and may handle most physical work.
  3. AI can be a helpful learning tool, but the way you use it matters. Students learn better when AI acts as a teacher rather than doing the work for them, so it’s best to engage with AI for deeper learning.

AI's Appetite for Energy Is Going to Be Huge

Robots for the Rest of Us • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Robotics Innovation Regulation
  1. AI's growth will demand a huge amount of energy, requiring revolutionary advancements like nuclear fusion.
  2. Humanoid robots being tested at BMW showcase potential, but they're not infallible and face challenges.
  3. Concerns arise about technology worsening products over time, potentially impacting jobs and quality, urging caution in AI deployment.

Lookout to 2024

New World Same Humans • 85 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Blockchain Robotics Geopolitics Science
  1. Generative AI is set to impact the real economy in 2024, with a focus on automating knowledge worker tasks.
  2. 2024 will see a historic year for global democracy, with tensions rising around deepfake technologies in elections.
  3. Mainstream adoption of blockchain technology is expected to reshape societies with decentralization and innovation.

Amazon is the new robotics champion

Robots & Startups • 19 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Startups Events Innovation
  1. It took Amazon only 10 years to reach nearly 1 million robot deployments, showing rapid growth in the robotics industry.
  2. Amazon is investing heavily in robotics and AI technologies, with over €700 million allocated for advancements across Europe.
  3. Upcoming robotics events include RoboGames, Robotics Summit & Expo, and the Robotics Investment Summit, offering diverse opportunities for engagement and learning.

AI for Nuclear Fusion (Feat. Martin Riedmiller, Lead of the Controls Team at Google DeepMind)

State of the Future • 12 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Reinforcement Learning Robotics
  1. Reinforcement learning (RL) is proving to be a powerful tool for controlling complex systems like plasma in nuclear fusion. It can also be used in other areas where traditional methods struggle.
  2. The idea of a 'universal controller' could change how we automate industrial processes. This system would adapt to different settings, making control much easier.
  3. Using large language models (LLMs) to improve RL makes learning more efficient. This means robots could learn new tasks faster by applying what they already know about the world.

Robot startups need to 'Start Telling People' plus highlights from BARS 2023

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Funding Research
  1. Robot startups should focus on 'Start Telling People' - effectively communicating their products and ideas is crucial for success
  2. BARS 2023 featured the latest robotics research showcasing the use of transformers and the rapid pace of innovation - a hub for cutting-edge robotics and AI insights
  3. Subscribe to Robots & Startups for access to in-depth posts and archives, with a 7-day free trial available - stay updated on the latest in robotics and startup trends

Garbatrage: for sustainable robotics

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Robotics Sustainability Funding Research
  1. A paper presented at the Association for Computing Machinery conference highlighted repurposing old hoverboards for robotics, showcasing sustainability in the field.
  2. Robots in New York City made from discarded hoverboards emphasize the potential for innovative recycling in creating sustainable robotics.
  3. Subscription to Robots & Startups offers a 7-day free trial, granting access to exclusive content and archives for deeper insights into the realm of robotics.

Robotics reading: the good, the bad and the everything in between.

Robots & Startups • 79 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Robotics AI Market Analysis
  1. The post discusses the good and bad aspects of artificial companions, offering deep exploration.
  2. A critical article about the humanoid robotic market is mentioned, focusing on numbers and correlations but lacking in other aspects.
  3. The readers are invited to subscribe to Robots & Startups for a 7-day free trial to access full post archives.