Tally Robot | Alpha 2 Humanoid Robot | Darwin AI Walking Robot

RoboPhil
3 Dec 201506:17

TLDRIn this week's robot news update, we explore the latest in robotic technology, focusing on shelf-stocktaking robots, household serving robots, and self-walking robots. The highlight is Tally, a shelf scanning robot that helps retailers reduce lost revenue due to misplaced or missing products. Additionally, the crowdfunding campaign for Alpha 2, a low-cost humanoid robot with social skills and practical household functions, is discussed. The episode also features a look at Darwin, an AI robot programmed to learn like a human child, aiming to create an intuitive, intelligent machine learning system.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 Introduction to the weekly robot update hosted by Philip English.
  • 🏪 Discussion on the shelf-stocktaking robot, Tally, developed by Simply Robotic, which helps retailers avoid lost revenue due to unstocked shelves.
  • 📈 Tally's efficiency in scanning shelves, with the capability to scan a small store like CVS or Walgreens in about an hour.
  • 🤖 The potential of robots and AI to automate routine tasks without completely replacing human workers.
  • 🏡 Introduction to Alpha 2, a small humanoid robot from Boomerang Robotics designed for household services and companionship.
  • 💬 Alpha 2's features include social interaction, task reminders, high-quality photography, home security, and entertainment for children and pets.
  • 💡 Alpha 2's open-source operating system and programmability, equipped with various sensors and 20 servos for nimble movement.
  • 💰 Alpha 2's super early bird special price of $499, with a standard price of $599.
  • 👶 Mention of Darwin, a robot programmed to learn like a human child by UC Berkeley's post-doctorate student Mourdock.
  • 🧠 Darwin's learning process involves a system of neural networks modeled after the human brain, aiming for independent task performance.
  • 📢 Reminder to visit the online Robo Store for more information on featured robots and to subscribe for the latest robot news, reviews, and tutorials.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the weekly robot update?

    -The main topic of the weekly robot update is the discussion of recent developments and news related to robots, specifically shelf-stocktaking, household serving, and self-walking robots.

  • What problem does the shelf scanning robot, Tally, aim to solve?

    -Tally aims to solve the problem of lost revenue due to missing, misplaced, or poorly arranged products on retail shelves by automatically scanning and recording which shelves need to be restocked.

  • How much time does it take for Tally to scan the shelves of a small store?

    -It takes Tally about an hour to scan the shelves of a small store, such as a modest CVS or Walgreens.

  • What is the potential impact of robots and AI on retail jobs?

    -Robots and AI are expected to increasingly take over parts of people's jobs in retail, automating routine work like restocking shelves, rather than completely replacing human workers.

  • What features does the humanoid robot Alpha 2 offer?

    -Alpha 2 offers features such as managing weekly calendars, providing verbal reminders, following verbal instructions, taking high-quality photographs, posting to social media, performing home security monitoring, entertaining children and pets, and reporting the weather.

  • How much does the Alpha 2 robot cost?

    -The Alpha 2 robot is available at a super early bird special price of $499, with a standard price of $599.

  • What is the goal of the AI robot Darwin?

    -The goal of Darwin is to create a machine learning system that allows the robot to learn and perform tasks on its own, much like a human child, by observing and making mistakes.

  • How does the Darwin robot learn?

    -Darwin learns by using a group of neural networks and computer algorithms modeled after the structure of the human brain, which are transferred into the robot from a computer system that simulates how a robot might act in certain situations.

  • What is the significance of the robot Tally's ability to identify sell-by dates?

    -Tally's ability to identify sell-by dates is significant because it helps prevent food from being missed when customers can't find it on the shelves, which can lead to billions of dollars in lost revenue each year for retailers.

  • How long does it typically take to manually inspect shelves in a large store?

    -According to a report from the analyst firm I8 Elf Services, it can take hundreds of hours to manually inspect shelves in a large store each week.

  • What is the purpose of the online Robo Store mentioned in the update?

    -The online Robo Store is a platform where viewers can find information on and purchase the robots featured in the weekly update, as well as other robot technology for day-to-day use.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Robotic Innovations in Retail and Household Services

This paragraph discusses various robots and their impact on the retail and household sectors. It introduces a shelf-stocktaking robot that helps retailers avoid lost revenue due to misplaced or missing products. The robot, named Tally, scans shelves to identify restocking needs and near-expiry food items. It's developed by a startup called Simply Robotics and is an example of how AI and robots are taking over routine tasks without replacing human workers. The segment also covers a crowdfunding campaign for a social humanoid robot named Alpha, designed for household services and companionship. Alpha 2 is highlighted for its low cost, social interaction capabilities, and programmability on an open-source operating system. Additionally, the paragraph mentions an AI robot developed by UC Berkeley that learns and performs tasks similarly to how a human child would.

05:01

🎥 Weekly Robot News and Community Engagement

The second paragraph focuses on the host's engagement with the audience, encouraging viewers to visit the online robo store for more information on featured robots and to subscribe for regular updates on robot news, reviews, and tutorials. The host, Philip English, invites viewers to comment with questions or requests for specific robot tutorials and reviews. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to check the video description for additional links and resources, and a look forward to the next episode.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Robotic Update

The term 'Robotic Update' refers to the latest news and developments in the field of robotics. In the context of the video, it is the central theme where the host, Philip, provides a weekly roundup of significant advancements and releases in the world of robots. This includes updates on various types of robots, their functionalities, and their potential impact on society and industry.

💡Tally the Shop Robot

Tally is a shelf-scanning robot designed to automate the inventory process in retail stores. It navigates the aisles, recording which shelves need restocking and identifying products near their sell-by dates. This robot is significant because it addresses the issue of lost revenue due to unavailability of products on the shelves, which is a major concern for retailers worldwide.

💡Automation

Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention. In the context of the video, automation is highlighted as a trend where robots and AI are taking over routine jobs in warehouses and retail stores to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This shift towards automation is expected to transform the way work is done and the roles humans play in these settings.

💡AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the intelligence exhibited by machines, which is often demonstrated through learning, reasoning, and problem-solving capabilities. In the video, AI is a key component of the robots discussed, enabling them to perform complex tasks, interact with humans, and adapt to their environments. AI is crucial for the development of robots that can serve and interact with humans in a more natural and intuitive way.

💡Humanoid Robots

Humanoid robots are robots that are designed to resemble humans in appearance and/or movement. They are often created to perform tasks that would otherwise require human interaction, such as companionship or household services. In the video, the humanoid robot Alpha 2 is introduced, which is designed for practical household services and companionship, highlighting the growing trend of integrating robots into daily human life.

💡Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is the practice of raising funds for a project or venture by collecting small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. In the context of the video, crowdfunding is used as a method for the company Boomerang Robotics to raise funds for the development and production of the Alpha 2 robot. This approach allows the company to gauge market interest and secure financial backing without traditional investment routes.

💡Open-Source Operating System

An open-source operating system is a software system that allows users to access and modify its source code freely. This collaborative approach to software development encourages community involvement and innovation. In the video, Alpha 2 operates on an open-source operating system, which means that its software can be customized and improved by users and developers, potentially extending the robot's capabilities and functionalities.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on the development of algorithms and statistical models that enable computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data. In the context of the video, machine learning is used to program the Darwin robot to learn and perform tasks in a manner similar to how a human child would learn through observation and trial-and-error.

💡Neural Networks

Neural networks are a series of algorithms that attempt to recognize underlying relationships in a set of data by mimicking the way the human brain operates to interpret information. In the video, neural networks are used as computer algorithms modeled after the human brain structure to simulate how a robot might act in certain situations, which is a fundamental aspect of machine learning and AI.

💡Robotic Hardware

Robotic hardware refers to the physical components and sensors that make up a robot's body and enable it to interact with its environment. In the context of the video, the hardware of the Alpha 2 robot includes various sensors and servos that allow it to perform a range of tasks and movements, contributing to its nimbleness and functionality.

💡Online Robo Store

An online Robo Store is a virtual marketplace where various types of robots and robotic technologies are sold. In the video, the host, Philip, promotes his online Robo Store as a place where viewers can find and purchase the robots featured in the update, as well as other robot technologies for everyday use.

Highlights

Philip Ignition hosts a weekly robot update series, discussing the latest in robot news worldwide.

Tally, the shelf-taking robot, can prevent lost revenue due to unstocked or misplaced items in retail stores.

Simply Robotic, a startup, developed Tally, which automates routine work in warehouses and retail stores.

Retailers lose billions annually due to unorganized or missing products on shelves.

Sydney Robotics' robot can scan shelves of a small store in about an hour, significantly reducing manual inspection time.

Alpha 2, a small humanoid robot from Boomer Tech Robotics, is designed for household services and companionship.

Alpha 2 is capable of managing calendars, providing reminders, and following verbal instructions.

The robot can take high-quality photos, post on social media, and perform home security monitoring.

Alpha 2 is programmable and operates on an open-source operating system.

The robot features various sensors and 20 servos in its joints, making it nimble and responsive.

Alpha 2 is available at a super early bird special price of $499, with a standard price of $599.

Darwin, a robot from UC Berkeley, is programmed to learn like a human child, capturing precious life moments.

Darwin's learning system is based on neural networks and algorithms modeled after the human brain.

The goal for Darwin is to create a machine learning system that allows it to perform tasks autonomously.

Philip Ignition encourages viewers to visit his online Robo store for more robot technology and to subscribe for weekly updates.

The video provides links to the latest robot news, reviews, tutorials, and other informative web resources.

Viewers are invited to comment with questions or requests for specific robot tutorials and reviews.