Watch: Humanoid Homebot Handles a Remarkable Range of Household Tasks

Just a few months after Chinese startup Astribot shared stunning video footage of its humanoid assistant, the company has now released a launch video for the S1. The new footage features the bot making waffles, feeding the cat, serving tea, and shooting hoops.

When the S1 was initially unveiled in April, we questioned why the promotional footage only showed the top half of the bot. We now understand the reason, as the newly-updated S1 has been showcased in its entirety for its official launch.

Astribot’s Focus on Domestic Tasks

While many humanoid robots are being developed for use in factories and manufacturing settings, it seems that Astribot is targeting domestic tasks instead. You can see this focus in the launch video below (make sure to watch it to the end).

Astribot has chosen not to use jointed lower limbs for the S1, instead opting for a simpler and more reliable design featuring motorized wheels and a single “leg” that bends at both the “knee” and base. Additionally, the video shows that the humanoid assistant appears to be powered by more than just batteries, as a cable is visibly connected to its base at one point.

New Features vs. Old Specs

Despite notable changes from the April prototype—such as a less prominent chest and a more complete head module compared to the previous basic camera/sensor setup—the company’s website has not yet been updated.

The S1 is still listed with a top speed of 10 meters per second, an acceleration of around 100 m/s², seven degrees of freedom in each arm, and the capability to handle payloads of up to 10 kg per arm.

The S1 features a sensor-equipped dual-digit gripper at the end of each arm, rather than the human-like robo-hands commonly seen in humanoid robots. However, this design choice does not seem to hinder the S1’s ability to perform various complex tasks. The AI-learned tasks showcased in the video suggest that the robot may be nearing production readiness.

Unfortunately, the company has not provided details about the hardware specifications or AI learning techniques used to develop the humanoid’s skills. These skills now include martial arts, vacuuming, making waffles, feeding the cat, and even remote play with the cat using VR goggles.

Despite this, the achievements of this young company are quite impressive. The footage is claimed to be authentic and recorded in real time, with no teleoperation used except for teasing the cat. We will share more information as soon as the company provides further details.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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