Explore the integration of memristors, a brain-inspired memory device, aiming to revolutionize computational hardware for lifelong learning AI systems.
It was just this week that we told you about Unitree’s latest quadruped robot, the B2. Well, the Chinese company has also announced its first-ever humanoid bipedal robot, the Unitree H1.
With a planned price tag of under US$90,000, the H1 is intended to rival other humanoid bots such as those made by Tesla, Figure and Agility Robotics. As far as basic specs go, it stands 1,805 mm tall (71 in), weighs about 47 kg (104 lb) and can carry a payload of up to 30 kg (66 lb).
Joints in the hip, knee and ankle give each leg a total of five degrees of freedom, while joints in the shoulder and elbow give each arm a total of four degrees. Unitree’s own M107 motors deliver 360 Nm (266 lb ft) of torque at each joint. Flexible fingers are reportedly in the works.
Summary: Researchers developed a groundbreaking synaptic transistor inspired by the human brain. This device can simultaneously process and store information, mimicking the brain’s capacity for higher-level thinking.
Unlike previous brain-like computing devices, this transistor remains stable at room temperature, operates efficiently, consumes minimal energy, and retains stored information even when powered off, making it suitable for real-world applications.
The study presents a major step forward in creating AI systems with greater energy efficiency and advanced cognitive functions.
Earlier this year, GitHub rolled out Copilot Chat, a ChatGPT-like programming-centric chatbot for organizations subscribed to Copilot for Business. Copilot Chat more recently came to individual Copilot customers — those paying $10 per month — in beta. And now, GitHub’s launching Chat in general availability for all users.
As of today, Copilot Chat is available in the sidebar in Microsoft’s IDEs, Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio — included as a part of GitHub Copilot paid tiers and free for verified teachers, students and maintainers of certain open source projects.
“As home to the world’s developers, we’ve brought to market what is now the most widely adopted AI developer tool in history,” Shuyin Zhao, VP of product management at GitHub, told TechCrunch in an email interview. “And code complete was just the beginning.”
The term “AI,” short for Artificial Intelligence, was officially coined in 1955 by John McCarthy while he was at MIT, a prominent computer scientist and one of the field’s early visionaries.
“He was the most even-tempered, caring and inspirational person and coach. He seemed to always have a smile for us, especially when we were exhausted from a work out, and most importantly when we had a poor race and were feeling down. Gene could shake a runner out of a sense of failure. He could restore confidence for a better next time. He treated us as adults. I remember him telling us that if we succeeded, the honor was ours, but if we failed, so was the responsibility. He knew how to build a person’s maturity.” — Jon Schmeyer ’77
The week before classes began, the cross country team (along with some of the other fall sports) came to campus for ‘training week.’ For that week, Gene had us run three times a day. My senior year, we started with distances of 5 miles/5 miles/5 miles for the three workouts, building up to 5 miles/8 miles/8 miles by the seventh day. Then on the eighth day, we did a single, 20-mile run, which ended by running all the way up College Hill. After that ordeal, the regular-season workouts almost seemed easy.
I know that the specter of training week motivated me to maintain a decent level of fitness in the summer. Those who failed to do so either suffered greatly or were unable to complete all the training week runs. I recall Gene taking us out to the golf course to practice jumping the creek He had us land on the trail leg. Although it was a counterintuitive way to jump, it really worked. You can’t jump quite as far as when landing on the lead leg, but Gene’s method was very effective in maintaining balance and momentum, which were beneficial in a cross country race.
Opinion: John Szarkowski
Posted in existential risks, robotics/AI
The legendary former curator of the Museum of Modern Art, once described photography as “the act of pointing.” And for the nearly 200 years since its inception, photography has consisted of capturing a visual perspective from the physical world using light — first with…
A.I. generators can produce photorealistic images, which is either an extinction-level event for photographers or a fantastic opportunity. Or both.
Explore the features of Unitree’s B2, the fastest and most versatile industrial quadruped robot in the market, designed to enhance efficiency across various industries.
This upgrade from its predecessor, the B1, introduces remarkable improvements across speed, load capacity, endurance, and adaptability.
The launch was delayed twice this month due to weather and technical issues.
SpaceX did not show any footage of the X-37B separating from the rocket’s second stage, as the mission was shrouded in secrecy. The X-37B, which looks like a miniature version of the space shuttle, is an autonomous reusable vehicle that can stay in orbit for years, performing various experiments and maneuvers. It is operated by the Air Force in partnership with the Space Force and built by Boeing. There are two X-37B spacecraft in the fleet, and they have flown six missions since 2010.
Standing by for launch of USSF-52 and the X-37B mission this evening using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at Kennedy Space Center! #SpaceSystemsCommand #USSF #PartnersInSpace pic.twitter.com/eraa6dwqix — Space Systems Command (@USSF_SSC) December 28, 2023
The X-37B had previously been launched on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket five times and on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket once. SpaceX won a $130 million contract in June 2018 to launch the OTV-7 mission on the Falcon Heavy, which can deliver heavier and larger payloads to higher orbits than the other rockets.
The robot is being developed to offer an helping hand to astronauts, designed to operate in hostile and hazardous conditions in space.
NASA’s first bipedal humanoid robot, Valkyrie, is undergoing a few of its final testing phases at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
A humanoid, much like Iron Man but constructed from metal and electronics, mimics human walking and appearance. Designed for a diverse array of functions, NASA is exploring if such machines can further space exploration, starting with the Artemis mission, according to Reuters.
Valkyrie, named after a prominent female figure in Norse mythology, commands attention with her formidable presence. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches (188 centimeters) and weighing 300 pounds (136 kilograms), NASA is an electric humanoid robot capable of operating in degraded or damaged human-engineered environments.