“Video Friday” is your weekly selection of great robotics videos collected by your friends at IEEE spectrum Robotics. We also publish a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please send us your events for inclusion.

ICRA@40: 23-26 September 2024, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

IROS 2024: 14-18 October 2024, ABU DHABI, UAE

ICSR 2024: 23–26 October 2024, ODENSE, DENMARK

Cybathlon 2024: 25–27 October 2024, ZURICH

Enjoy today’s videos!

I think it’s time for all of us to admit that some of the most interesting research on bipedal and humanoid animals is being done at Disney.

(Research paper by ETH Zurich and Disney Research)

In recent months, the Unitree G1 robot has been upgraded to a mass production version, which has stronger performance, ultimate appearance and better compliance with mass production requirements.

(Unitree)

This robot is from Kinisi Robotics, which was founded by Brennand Pierce, who also founded Bear Robotics. You can’t really tell in this video, but check out the website because the reach of this robot is insane.

Kinisi Robotics is on a mission to democratize access to advanced robotics with our latest innovation – a low-cost dual-arm robot for warehouses, factories, and supermarkets. What sets our robot apart is the integration of LLM technology, which allows it to learn from demonstrations and perform complex tasks with minimal setup. Thanks to Brennand’s extensive experience in scaling robotic solutions, we are able to produce this robot for under $20,000, making it a game-changing newcomer to the industry.

(Kinisi Robotics)

Thanks, Bren!

Finally something that Atlas can do and that I am physically capable of. Theoretically.

Okay, forget it. I don’t have those hips.

(Boston Dynamics)

Researchers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University have developed the first robot of its size with legs that can walk, turn, push loads and climb miniature stairs.

They say it can “walk,” but I’m skeptical there’s a flight phase unless someone sneezes nearby.

(Carnegie Mellon University)

The lights are cool and all, but it’s the vibrant, soft skin that blows me away.

( Paper, Robotics Reports Volume 2)

Roofing is difficult and dangerous work, so it would be great if robots could do it. It will be a challenge, though.

(Renovate Robotics) via (TechCrunch)

Kento Kawaharazuka of the JSK Robotics Laboratory at the University of Tokyo sent us a letter with this paper, just accepted at RA-L, which shows (among other things) a robot that uses its flexible hands to identify objects through random finger movements.

( Article accepted by IEEE Letters on Robotics and Automation )

Thank you, Kento!

It’s one thing to build reliable robots, but it’s another thing to build robots that are reliable and can be repaired by the end user. I don’t think iRobot gets enough credit for that.

(iRobot)

(MBZIRC Maritime Grand Challenge)

No joke, that used to be my job.

(RoboHike)