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Sir Walter Richardson is using a Raspberry Pi to power his AI-based robot that follows runners, shouting messages of encouragement or discouragement depending on their performance. View the full article

The secret to how Tesla builds their Optimus robot ...

Cat robot with fur turns out to be surprisingly flammable, to itself. View the full article

Boston Dynamics all but trade-marked jaw-dropping robot videos with its hydraulics-power Atlas robot's dancing and parkouring videos. Now it's upped the ante and I'm scraping my jaw off the floor again after watching the brief introduction video for its all-electric and completely redesigned Atlas robot. The All New Atlas is Boston Dynamic's first all-electric humanoid robot and the robotics firm claims it's stronger and more agile than all previous iterations. What jumps out at me in the video, though, is the robot's far more human-like body. Where the hydraulics-based Atlas always looked charmingly like a mash-up between a line-backer and some scaffolding, the new Atlas is much more in the vein of Tesla's Optimus, and Figure AI's Figure 01, quickly shifting the legendary robotics company back into a pole position in the growing humanoid robotics race. What stuns here, though, is not just the robot's looks, it's how the New Atlas moves. The clip starts with the new Atlas motionless and splayed out on the floor. It lifts its two legs up and rolls them back until they're in a position no human who is not a contortionist could easily match. With both feet planted on the ground, the new Atlas rises up from the floor but with its chest, head, and legs facing away from the camera. First, the head, which has a circular glass panel for a face, spins around, and then each leg rotates at the hip to face the camera as Atlas effortlessly walks forward. Finally, the torso spins around under the head until the entire New Atlas is facing the camera. As Boston Dynamics notes in the release, "Atlas may resemble a human form factor, but we are equipping the robot to move in the most efficient way possible to complete a task, rather than being constrained by a human range of motion. Atlas will move in ways that exceed human capabilities." Giving Atlas super-human capabilities that include more strength and the ability to move in ways we can't is all about efficiency. Humans are constrained by their physiology in ways that robots don't have to be. We joke about people "keeping their heads on a swivel" to remain aware of their environment, but robots can literally do this. Boston Dynamics continues to focus on bi-pedal robots because it believes it's a useful form factor in building robots to work "in a world designed for people." It's unclear if the shift to all-electric augurs a similar change for its popular SPOT robot (the one that looks a bit like a dog), which currently uses battery power and hydraulic actuators. Just the start Even though Atlas now looks more human, it's still a long way from commercial or consumer availability. Its initial test bed, according to Boston Dynamics, will be with company investor Hyundai. "In the months and years ahead, we’re excited to show what the world’s most dynamic humanoid robot can really do—in the lab, in the factory, and in our lives," notes the company in the release. On the back end, the New Atlas will be powered by, among other things, the company's latest AI and machine learning. When it places robots in factories, Boston Dynamics ensures that the programming knows as much about the factory as possible so the robots can work independently and safely. The dawn of a New Atlas does mean the sunsetting of the beloved hydraulic-based robot. Boston Dynamics gave the original Atlas a sweet sendoff with a video recounting its successes and numerous gaffes. For every time that Atlas successfully completed a parkour routine, it also tipped over, face-planted, and spectacularly burst a hydraulics line. The video is a funny and loving tribute to a robot that's captured the imaginations of millions of viewers. It's a fitting way to end one chapter and launch this new one with the all-electric Atlas. Sure, we've only seen 30 seconds of movement, but I'm sure we'll soon see this more personable robot dancing with SPOT, back-flipping off ledges, and parkouring its way into our hearts. You might also like I'm ready to throw out my iRobot Roomba in favor of Samsung's new ... I saw the world's most advanced robot – and it's uncanny And that's how it all started: AI managed to design a robot that walks ... View the full article

I’m going to tell you that my Roomba S9 Plus is haunted, but don’t dwell on the haunting. The buttons are stuck, which may or may not be related. I have been living with the haunted Roomba and its broken buttons since last year, when it was still under warranty, but it only recently started waking me up in the middle of the night. When I finally contacted iRobot for support, they told me that my Roomba was dead (undead?!), and it would be impossible for them to fix it. I need to live with the haunted Roomba or destroy it. A Roomba S9 like mine, but not as haunted (Image credit: iRobot) Again, let’s not dwell on the haunting part. There are many things you can replace on a Roomba. Of course, you can replace the filters. You can replace all of the cleaning elements, like the brushes and sweepers. You can replace the battery, though you’ll need a screwdriver and some patience. The buttons, however, are sacrosanct. If the buttons get stuck, iRobot support tells me they cannot be replaced. There is no way to fix my Roomba S9 with broken buttons, and there is no workaround that will clear the robot of its ghosts. A broken Roomba behaves like it's haunted Okay, now for the haunting. One day I was sitting in my living room and the Roomba started to vacuum. On its own. No schedule, nothing. I sent it home again. It kept happening, once a week at first, but it happened at inconvenient times. My robot would start cleaning at 3 AM, on its own. I had a hunch and engaged the child lock. Now, instead of cleaning on its own, it would loudly yell “The buttons have been disabled. Please use your iRobot home app to clean.” The Roomba on a blood red carpet (Image credit: TechRadar) Something was pressing the buttons. I’m not saying it was a specific ghost, but it’s been a hard and tragic few years for many of us. I know people who have passed away who would want my floors clean. I know others who might want to pester me at night for fun. Once you believe there is a ghost in your robot vacuum, unsatisfied with unswept floors, that idea sticks. Eventually, the unprovoked yelling started happening daily. I cleaned the Roomba thoroughly and replaced all of its cleaning parts. I plugged it into a surge protector after reading on Reddit that power surges can cause the vacuum to start a cleaning session. I vacuumed the vacuum itself to clear any dust or debris. Nothing helped. My haunted vacuum becomes a poltergeist One night the haunted Roomba went too far. It started screaming over and over again “The buttons have been disabled. Please use your iRobot home app to clean.” Over and over. There is no mute setting for the Roomba. A reboot didn’t help. My Roomba tormented me. I shut it down by holding down the power button. It fell silent. I went to bed. Then I heard the beeping chime of the Roomba starting up. The robot refused to die. The underbelly of the beast (Image credit: TechRadar) I covered the Roomba with thick blankets to mute the sound, and eventually it ran out of battery power. I contacted Roomba, and they showed me how to remove the battery completely, to perform a hard reset. The hard reset failed. The screaming continued. They suggested I set up a Do Not Disturb period for the entire day and night. That actually worked! For a few days, at least. My robot was silent. Then, in the middle of the night (always!), it started to chime as it powered down. Then it chimed again, powering up. Down. Up. Down. Up. It kept going. I unscrewed the battery, and now it sits like an autopsy patient on my table. There is no fix for a haunted Roomba, or stuck buttons This was my first robot vacuum, and I won’t be replacing it Support from iRobot says “The issue you are describing means that the buttons of the robot are stuck, and unfortunately this issue is non-repairable.” They can’t fix it. My 18-month-old Roomba S9 Plus, which I got on sale for around $800 in November, 2022, is kaput. That’s totally unacceptable. There must be some path to rectify this problem, and not just for me, for all owners. There can’t be a malfunction that causes the robot to die, with no hope of repair. iRobot must have some way to fix this issue, or it needs to offer Roomba S9 owners some way to trade our robots for a robot that actually works, and that is eligible for repairs when it breaks. This was my first robot vacuum, and I won’t be replacing it quickly because it’s a huge expense that I cannot afford right now. Perhaps in the future, I’ll consider iRobot again, if I hear that reliability and service have improved. Until then, I’ll need another option. Maybe I’ll get a dustbuster, or maybe I’ll call the Ghostbusters. I’m ready to throw out my iRobot Roomba in favor of Samsung’s new Jet Bot Combo AI robot vacuum5 things you need to know before buying your first Roomba robot vacuumA Roomba S9+ changed my life - here are Roomba deals that might change yours View the full article

With the Apple Car canceled, Apple is exploring new markets where it might be able to find new revenue streams, and personal robotics is apparently one area the company is investigating. This guide highlights everything we know about Apple's interest in robotics, and we'll update it with new rumors going forward. The Robot Rumors According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is looking for its "next big thing," and robotics are one area of focus. Apple has engineering teams working on various in-home robotic devices and the AI software and functionality that might be able to make a home robot useful. Apple's work on robotics takes place in the hardware engineering division and in its AI and machine learning group under AI chief John Giannandrea. Mobile Robot Apple is considering a mobile robot that would follow users around the home, presumably serving as something like an iPad on wheels. A robot would likely be able to place FaceTime calls, monitor the home and the people in it, carry out simple tasks, and answer queries. Apple is said to be exploring AI algorithms that would be used to help robots navigate cluttered spaces in homes, and while Apple wants to design a robot that would clean and do chores much like Rosey in the Jetsons, it's too complicated for now. Gurman says that such a robot is unlikely this decade due to "extraordinarily difficult engineering challenges." Table-Top Robot Another Apple project is described as an "advanced table-top home device" where robotics are used to move a display around. The device, which is described as a robotic motor on a small stand, would mimic the head movements of a person on a ‌FaceTime‌ video call. It would be able to nod, or precisely lock on to a single person during a group ‌FaceTime‌ call. Gurman says that Apple has had some difficulty with weight and balance, and Apple is also not sure that consumers will pay "top dollar" for such a product. The robotic display is said to be further along than Apple's mobile robot, but it has been "added and removed from the company's product roadmap" several times over the years. Secret House Facility Apple reportedly has a secret facility that is designed to look like the inside of a home, and that's where it is testing future home products. Other Home Devices There are some more realistic products that are in the works, with rumors suggesting that Apple is developing an iPad-like home hub device that would serve as a central way to control smart devices. Apple has also been rumored to be working on a version of the Apple TV that integrates HomePod speakers and a camera, and there have been rumors of a ‌HomePod‌ with a display. Apple's Competition Amazon has a $1,600 "Astro" robot that it sells by invitation. Astro is able to navigate the home and remotely check specific rooms, people, and things when the user is away from home. The robot is able to send an alert if an unrecognized person is detected, or if there are sounds like an alarm. Astro has a built-in display and can be used for watching TV, placing calls, setting reminders, sending messages, and more. Astro uses Alexa, and Amazon suggests that it can be used to "remotely care for aging loved ones." Astro is also able to carry "a variety of accessories" such as a Ziploc container, a blood pressure monitor, and a Furbo Dog Camera that provides treats for a pet. Sony has experimented with robots, and is best known for the Aibo robotic dog. Priced at $2900, Aibo is designed to act like a real dog with dynamic movements, lifelike expressions, curiosity, and an interest in human interaction. Aibo is able to learn tricks, play with toys, and listen to commands. There are a number of other home robots on the market, but the best known may be the wide range of robot vacuums like the Roomba that are able to navigate the home to automatically clean up dust, dirt, pet fur, and other debris. Robot Launch Date Apple's work on personal robotics is in the early stages, and the company has small teams that are exploring different concepts. It is not clear if some kind of robot will ever launch, and there is no word on when if so. This article, "Apple's Work on Robots: What We Know So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's recently rumored "personal robotics" projects, iOS 17.5, Apple Pencil rumors, and more. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple is reportedly looking into personal robotics, such as a "mobile robot" that would "follow users around their homes" and an "advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around." In the long term, Apple apparently wants to create machines that can "handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink," but the robotics projects are said to be in the very early stages of research, and it is unclear if any of them will ever be released. We also talk through the Beats Solo 4 headphones and Apple's upcoming iOS 17.5 update, which introduces web distribution in the EU, a color-changing Apple Podcasts widget, hints about next-generation iPad battery monitoring features and an upcoming ‌Apple Pencil‌ model, and third-party item tracker alerts. The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward: Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel! You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about all of the rumors surrounding WWDC 2024 and iOS 18. Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. ‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Tag: The MacRumors Show This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple's Next Big Thing – Robots?" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article

Let’s be honest, Apple’s reportedly canceled self-driving car project sounds like it was a bit of a disaster. But don’t think that Apple throwing in the towel means the company has given up on moonshot ideas. No, if a new report is correct, it looks like Apple has quickly moved onto its next big thing – and we guarantee it’s not what you were expecting. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a personal robot that could use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to follow you around your home, performing useful tasks and being a general helper around the house. Gurman says that Apple “has teams investigating a push into personal robotics.” Proposed products include “a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes” and “an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around.” That second idea sounds a lot like the rumored HomePod with an iPad display that has been doing the rounds recently. However, Gurman’s report makes clear that that is a separate device. Clearly, though, Apple is thinking seriously about how it can integrate its products even further into your home life – including with an unlikely Amazon Astro rival. Apple’s next big thing? (Image credit: Shutterstock) Although these concepts might have an air of the fantastical about them, Gurman has a solid record when it comes to Apple leaks and rumors. These projects are reportedly in their early stages, though, so they might never see the light of day. Apple's ambitions for its robot project may also have been scaled down. According to Bloomberg's report, the original idea was "a device that could navigate entirely on its own without human intervention — like the car — and serve as a videoconferencing tool". But a robot that can help with your chores is apparently off the table until the 2030s, due to the tricky engineering challenges. With the cancelation of Apple’s self-driving car, it seems the company is desperate to find the “next big thing” that will carry it into the coming decades. Is the Apple Vision Pro not that next big thing? Gurman thinks not, if only because it’s “expected to take years to become a major moneymaker.” So, while we wait for the Vision Pro’s price to come down and for the device to really enter the mainstream, it seems like we could one day get Apple-branded robo-helpers performing household chores for us. Now there’s a sentence we never thought we’d write. You might also like Apple Car: it's the end of the road, but here's what could have happenedApple’s HomePod with a screen now rumored for 2025 release, but has the Echo Show already won that smart home race?Apple's Car project is dead according to a report – and everything I've been telling you for the last nine years View the full article

Apple is exploring various "personal robotics" projects in an effort to create its "next big thing," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Amazon's Astro robot One of these projects is described as a "mobile robot" that would "follow users around their homes," while another is said to be an "advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around":Engineers at Apple have been exploring a mobile robot that can follow users around their homes, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the skunk-works project is private. The iPhone maker also has developed an advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around, they said.Apple is investigating the use of AI algorithms that would help robots "navigate cluttered spaces within people's homes," the report says. Apple has apparently wanted to create robots that can "handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink," but Gurman said this feat is unlikely this decade due to "extraordinarily difficult engineering challenges." Apple's home robot could compete with the likes of Amazon's Astro, which serves as a mobile virtual assistant and provides home security monitoring. As for the table-top device, Gurman said one idea was for its display to "mimic the head movements" of a person on a FaceTime video call. However, he said Apple has faced technical challenges related to "balancing the weight of a robotic motor on a small stand," and some Apple executives have apparently debated whether to develop such a device. The robotics projects are said to be in the very early stages of research, and it is unclear if any of them will ever be released to the public. For now, these are just moonshot ideas, but they are fascinating ones to learn about.Tag: Mark Gurman This article, "Apple Exploring 'Mobile Robot' That 'Follows Users Around Their Homes'" first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums View the full article