Copyright Interesting Engineering
Engineers in the United States are making serious efforts to ensure that humanoid robots master self-balancing and offer precision in conducting multiple types of tasks. Researchers from Iowa State University are testing new methods to advance the physical intelligence and capabilities of humanoid robots. They believe that humanoid robots should be able to accurately perform complex actions such as walking, grasping objects, and navigating their way across a room. Part of physical intelligence, these actions are easy to learn and necessary for robots’ use in real-world environments. Physical intelligence crucial for robots “As humans, we often take our physical intelligence for granted because it becomes so automatic when we’re still young,” said Bowen Weng, roboticist and assistant professor of computer science at Iowa State University. “But the truth is, it’s remarkable. The fact that you haven’t fallen over much since you were 3 years old is remarkable. Once humans master a skill, the physical intelligence needed to perform that skill becomes a background process, and our minds are freed up to focus on other tasks.” Built to interact with human environments Designed with a body shape that resembles the human form, humanoid robots are built to interact with human environments and tools. These innovations can be used for a variety of purposes, including assisting humans with tasks, conducting research, or performing dangerous or tedious jobs. “To help move our society and humanity forward, we have to get more done, do more things and find a way to accomplish it all with greater speed and efficiency,” Weng said. “Automation is a step to help us reach that goal, but at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge certain fears people might have and explain why humans can’t and won’t be replaced by humanoid robots.” Recently, Weng has co-authored two studies that help ensure smooth motion and self-balance in robots. Titled “Experimental Evaluation of Commercial Quadruped Robots: Stability and Performance in Non-inertial Environments,” the study presents an experimental evaluation of the stability and performance of commercial quadrupedal robots, specifically the Ghost Robotics Vision 60 and Boston Dynamics Spot, under dynamic ground conditions typical of non-inertial naval environments. The paper systematically assesses these robots in controlled laboratory settings and real-world scenarios aboard the M80 Stiletto, a naval prototype vessel. “The results reveal that while both robots demonstrate operational capabilities, significant challenges remain. Vision 60, in particular, exhibits superior stability, balance, and lower peak torque when handling substantial ground motions compared to Spot,” said researchers in the study. Wang also co-authored a second study titled “Repeatable and Reliable Efforts of Accelerated Risk Assessment in Robot Testing”. The study mentions that risk assessment of a robot in controlled environments, such as laboratories and proving grounds, is a common means to assess, certify, validate, verify, and characterize the robots’ safety performance before, during, and even after their commercialization in the real-world. A standard testing program that acquires the risk estimate is expected to be repeatable, such that it obtains similar risk assessments of the same testing subject among multiple trials or attempts with the similar testing effort by different stakeholders, and reliable against a variety of testing subjects produced by different vendors and manufacturers. Both repeatability and reliability are fundamental and crucial for a testing algorithm’s validity, fairness, and practical feasibility, especially for standardization, according to the paper. A lab in the university is playing a key role in advancing humanoid robots’ capabilities. The lab is home to two highly advanced legged humanoid robots, with the largest standing about 6 feet tall and the smaller reaching roughly the height of a 10-year-old child, as well as a quadruped robot with dog-like attributes and the build of a beagle. Weng said that humanoid robots still face some major hurdles to widespread adoption, including high development and unit costs, a lack of standardization, infrastructure gaps, and limited use cases. There are also social and ethical challenges that need to be addressed. However, Weng said these challenges and growth barriers also make ongoing research to improve the safety and efficacy of robots even more important. Weng has been offered a new research project that will contribute to the improved reliability and effectiveness of legged robotic systems by advancing evaluation standards and by promoting transparency regarding the capabilities – and limitations – of these systems, according to a press release.
