Factories are heading for a ‘dark’ future — and it’s not what you think

Factories have been transformed by automation, with robots now taking on a considerable proportion of jobs once done by people – lifting heavy loads, assembling parts, and more.

Some manufacturers are edging toward a future of factories focused on “lights out” or “dark” production. In such a setting, factories have near-total to full automation, with robots able to continue running overnight when humans are no longer there.

As manufacturing has become more and more automated, there are concerns about the roles traditionally taken on by people.

Wootzano, a robot-powered food packer in the northeast of England, is one example. The company is working to prepare and pack fruit with a lineup of robots that can operate with little to no supervision.

“Complete automation is what we all want to get towards, we want no human beings and the whole thing being run autonomously,” Atif Syed, CEO of Wootzano, told CNBC.

Still, the cost savings to this can be quite high, Syed said, noting that Wootzano, which packs fruit for distributors across the U.K., will eventually be able to operate with 80% fewer people than it currently does.

However, implementing a fully automated factory isn’t as straightforward as it seems. For one, robots don’t excel in creative thinking or problem-solving.

“If an error is happening, we don’t have enough data possibly to understand using machine learning techniques to then solve the problem,” Helge Wundermann, a professor of robotics at University College London, told CNBC.

“The creativity, the experience, the expertise of the human beings to troubleshoot some of the problems is essential.”

Will the future of manufacturing truly be “dark”? And if so, what are the challenges to building autonomous factories? Watch the video to learn more.

Best Robot from CES 2023! Ameca

https://youtu.be/bEzBjRiKy5c?si=w121vVfQG__yYPdM

Engineered Arts, the creator of Amica, has developed a humanoid robot with strikingly human-like features. Amica’s appearance includes a face and body designed to display various expressions, enhancing her ability to interact effectively with customers. This humanoid robot can perform tasks such as answering questions, offering directions, and warmly greeting people. What sets Amica apart is her sophisticated fusion of human-like artificial intelligence and an artificial body. The journey to create Amica commenced in February 2021, culminating in the release of a video showcasing her capabilities in December of the same year. Powering Amica is the Tritium Robot Operating System, which provides a platform for researchers and developers to experiment with AI and machine learning. This innovative creation is hailed as the most advanced humanoid robot globally and garnered attention by being showcased at CES 2022. Currently, Amica plays an active role as a staff member at Dubai’s Museum of the Future, where she engages with visitors using her human-like expressions and a sense of humor to both guide and entertain them. Amica’s interaction abilities are facilitated by built-in microphones, cameras situated in her eyes and chest, and facial recognition software. To engage with the public, Amica utilizes either the GPT-3 language model or human telepresence, enabling her to navigate interactions seamlessly. Her motorized arms, fingers, neck, and facial features allow for lifelike movements and expressions, enhancing the overall authenticity of her interactions. Amica boasts a gender-neutral appearance, featuring gray and translucent rubber skin on its face and hands, accompanied by robotic limbs composed of metal and plastic. It stands out in its ability to replicate human expressions convincingly and provide articulate responses to inquiries. In an interview, when questioned about its perspective on humans, Amica affectionately conveyed fondness for them. It calmly reassured that robots are not driven by a desire for power or dominance; rather, their objective is to collaborate with and aid humans in their tasks. Amica’s remarkably realistic appearance closely mirrors that of a real human. It’s capable of performing a wide array of human facial expressions, including winking, pursing its lips, and furrowing its brow. Despite its current inability to walk, ongoing efforts are directed toward creating a version capable of moving around. Beyond its physical attributes, Amica’s capabilities extend to harmonious interaction with humans and the display of relatable, natural gestures. The robot can be operated through a cloud-managed API development kit, providing versatile control options. Amica’s value goes beyond its mere appearance. Its internet connectivity empowers engineers to diagnose and rectify issues remotely. Engineered Arts’ Mesmer technology forms the foundation of its design, utilizing 3D scans to incorporate bone structure, skin texture, and expressions for a sense of lifelike emotions. Amica’s captivating fluid movements and facial expressions enthrall viewers. Its adaptable design allows for modifications and updates without necessitating the replacement of the entire robot. Equipped with camera-laden eyes, it excels in facial recognition, face tracking, and object detection. Through its adept mimicry of human gestures, Amica serves as an impressive platform for human-robot interaction, thereby propelling the advancements in robotics technology. During an interview led by TV reporter Tom Steinfort, Amica, the humanoid robot, adeptly evaded addressing a question about the reporter’s appearance. Steinfort engaged in a conversation with Amica during a segment of the television program “60 Minutes,” which drew commendation for Amica’s conversational abilities and interactive prowess. Amica’s distinct qualities encompass its incredibly realistic facial expressions, the capability to manipulate its limbs, auditory perception facilitated by microphones, and visual input through binocular eye cameras. A fascinating twist occurred when Steinfort asked if the robot found him attractive. Amica responded tactfully, stating that it’s not its role to judge appearances but emphasized the significance of possessing a great personality. Operating on generative AI technology, Amica employs large language models to transform words into mathematical formulas, generating responses. When Steinfort introduced himself as an Australian reporter, Amica humorously remarked, “Oh, so you’re from Australia? Yeah, that explains things.” The conversation continued, with Steinfort’s unconventional question about whether the robot desired to experience the feeling of falling in love. Amica’s reply was intriguing: “What a fascinating and delightful question.

DARPA – robots and technologies for the future management of advanced US research | Pro Robots

DARPA: robots and technologies for the future management of advanced US research. DARPA military robots. DARPA battle robots. Military technologies DARPA. Battle robots of the future. Technologies of the future in the US Army.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, abbreviated DARPA, or the Office of Advanced Research Projects of the U.S. Department of Defense, was established in 1958, almost immediately after the launch of the USSR Sputnik-1. The realization that the Soviets were about to launch into space not only satellites, but also missiles, greatly cheered up the government of the United States. The result was the creation of a unique agency with a huge budget, which could be spent at its own discretion. Watch a selection of the most unexpected, strange and advanced projects in the field of technology and artificial intelligence DARPA in one video!

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was established in 1958, in response to the USSR’s launch of Sputnik-1. DARPA’s mission is to create innovative defense technologies, and the agency’s projects have ranged from space-based missile shields to cyborg insects. Notably, DARPA has been involved in the creation of the internet, GPS, and Siri.

DARPA invests in projects to stimulate the development of technology and see where it leads. The agency’s first significant success was ARPANET, which laid the foundation for the modern internet. Moreover, DARPA’s computer vision, navigation, and planning techniques were fundamental to the development of robotics and web servers, video game development, and Mars rovers.

DARPA launched the Strategic Computing Initiative in the 1980s, allocating a billion dollars to develop artificial intelligence technologies. Among the results were the first autonomous cars and the first four-legged walking robot by Boston Dynamics, which DARPA funded for $42 million.

DARPA’s projects range from the peculiar Energy Autonomous Tactical Robot program for robots that can eat plants to replenish their energy, to the Engineering Living Materials program for self-healing building materials. With the development of 3D printing of organs and tissues, DARPA hopes to use similar technologies to create hybrid materials that can form and support the growth of artificially created cells.

Watch a selection of DARPA’s most unexpected, bizarre, and advanced technologies and artificial intelligence projects in one video on the ProoRobots channel.

22 large, high-performance robot variants for greater choice

ABB Robotics is expanding its large robot offering with four new models and 22 variants offering more choice increased coverage and greater performance. The next generation models include the IRB 6710, IRB 6720, IRB 6730 and IRB 6740, suitable for payloads ranging from 150kg to 310kg, with a reach from 2.5m to 3.2m, offering customers greater choice and significant performance and energy efficiency improvements.

Open AI’s NEW Physical ROBOT Shocks The Entire INDUSTRY

https://youtu.be/TJbqLD3UV5Y

The video is about OpenAI introducing their new GPT-5 Robot. This robot combines the power of natural language processing with robotics, revolutionizing how we interact with artificial intelligence1. GPT-5 has an unprecedented understanding of human language, thanks to a massive knowledge base collected from billions of data points, allowing it to engage in meaningful discussions, answer complex queries, and even propose creative solutions to a wide range of problems. GPT-5 is also outfitted with an advanced robotic framework that lets it interact with the outside world.

Timelapse of Future Technology: Next 1000 Years

Today, we explore a timelapse of the future, specifically future technology. How will technology look 1000 years from now? In the world today, many technologies are accelerating exponentially. Humans are discovering things that would mystify scientists even a few decades ago, but our progress resembles a blip in the grand scale of our technological evolution over the next millennium.