A brave new world

A program that debates humans, 3D printed aircraft and autonomous flying vehicles can only mean that the future is here (Curated By- Anjan Das; Coordinated By- Mexy Xavier)

Curated By: Forbes India

Published: Jul 12, 2018

Sophia Humanoid RobotSophia was developed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics in 2015. As the United

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Sophia Humanoid Robot
Sophia was developed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics in 2015. As the United Nations Development Programme’s first ever Innovation Champion, Sophia is the first non-human to be given a UN title and a citizenship (by Saudi Arabia). It has displayed prowess in voice recognition and making human gestures at various public events, including the Discovery exhibition on April 30, 2018 in Toronto (pictured).

Easy Ride Robo-CabNissan Motor has deployed its Nissan Leaf electric vehicle to test a self-driving

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Easy Ride Robo-Cab
Nissan Motor has deployed its Nissan Leaf electric vehicle to test a self-driving robo-taxi service in Japan. Called Easy Ride, the service is being tested in partnership with the technology firm DeNA.

Through voice and text commands, the rider can use DeNA’s mobile app to input a destination or

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Through voice and text commands, the rider can use DeNA’s mobile app to input a destination or activity and then choose from a list of 500 recommendations.

Volocopter, Urban air taxisThe Volocopter is the world’s first fully-electric, flying vehicle

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Volocopter, Urban air taxis
The Volocopter is the world’s first fully-electric, flying vehicle for urban mobility, built by the eponymous German manufacturer, and has completed test flights in Dubai. The air taxi system, which can carry two people at a time, has no combustion engine, produces no noise, has no complex mechanics and turns the vision of ‘flight-for-all’ into reality. Using its own hubs it connects vital intersections like airports or business parks with city centres. Volocopters relieve the strain on congestion-prone areas like bridges and ring roads and are cheaper than other aerial mobility alternatives.

Ira, Robot assistantCurrently deployed at HDFC Bank’s Koramangala branch in Bengaluru, I

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Ira, Robot assistant
Currently deployed at HDFC Bank’s Koramangala branch in Bengaluru, Ira gained fame as the robot that shook hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump at the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad. At the HDFC branch, Ira meets customers and answers queries. It was designed and manufactured by Invento Robotics in 2018. The robots are also deployed in PVR Cinemas in Delhi and Bengaluru and are known there by the name of Mitra.

Flytrex mule, Delivery droneIsrael-based drone company Flytrex and Iceland’s largest online ma

Image by : http://www.flytrex.com/

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Flytrex mule, Delivery drone
Israel-based drone company Flytrex and Iceland’s largest online marketplace AHA launched the world’s first autonomous drone delivery system in Iceland in 2017.

The cloud-controlled drones can carry parcels weighing up to 3 kg to a distance of 10 km. The

Image by : http://www.flytrex.com/

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The cloud-controlled drones can carry parcels weighing up to 3 kg to a distance of 10 km. The drones collect airspace data from a network of sensors and other air borne drones, helping the system optimise flight planning and lower delivery costs.

Atlas, The fearsome robotBoston Dynamics has excelled at designing machines that can walk, run and e

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Atlas, The fearsome robot
Boston Dynamics has excelled at designing machines that can walk, run and even jump like humans. They can stand their ground even in difficult terrains. Atlas is the latest humanoid from Boston Dynamics. It runs on battery power and weighs 75 kg. With hydraulic actuation, Atlas’s control system coordinates motions of the arms, torso and legs and keeps its balance when jostled or pushed and can even get up if it tips over.

SpotminiSpotMini is a small, four-legged, all electric-robot with the ability to pick up and handle

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Spotmini
SpotMini is a small, four-legged, all electric-robot with the ability to pick up and handle objects using its arm and perception sensors. The arm has five degrees of freedom. At 40 kgs, inclusive of the detachable arm, SpotMini can operate indoors and outdoors and can work for about 90 minutes on a single charge.

Project debater , AI that debates humansIBM’s Project Debater moves us closer to one of the mo

Image by : IBM Research

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Project debater , AI that debates humans
IBM’s Project Debater moves us closer to one of the most important tenets of AI: Mastering language. In June, the program engaged in a public debate with a professional human debater Dan Zafrir. The program can fetch over 300 million indexed news articles and academic papers and respond with an introductory speech, debate the opponent’s views and give a closing statement.

Pepper, a social machineAt the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), co

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Pepper, a social machine
At the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), cognitive sciences and robot-human communication are studied. The team works with two robots. With Pepper (above), research is oriented around its autobiographical memory. Its clinical application is to accompany and bond with elderly people and interact with them around past, shared experiences.

Thor 3D-printed aircraftAirbus 3D-printed this four-metre-long, 21 kg mini aircraft named Thor&mdash

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Thor 3D-printed aircraft
Airbus 3D-printed this four-metre-long, 21 kg mini aircraft named Thor—‘Test of Hi-tech Objectives in Reality’. Airbus is using Thor as a test bed for futuristic aircraft technologies: From 3D-printed structural parts to advanced aerodynamics and even artificial intelligence.

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The Thor project is spearheaded by Detlev Konigorski, Gunnar Haase and Andreas Poppe (left to right).

Self-driving minibus, Charité hospitalAn electric, self-driving minibus was launched th

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Self-driving minibus, Charité hospital
An electric, self-driving minibus was launched through Berlin’s Charité Hospital and Medical Campus in March this year. The four electric minibuses are capable of driving autonomously through pre-programmed routes, yet each still has a technician on board to intervene if necessary. The pilot project is a joint effort between Charité, Berlin’s transport authority (BVG) and also Germany’s environment ministry.

Transport robots, AmazonAt Amazon’s fulfilment centres, automated transport robots move goods

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Transport robots, Amazon
At Amazon’s fulfilment centres, automated transport robots move goods in storage units. On receiving an order, the software detects the bot closest to the ordered item. By following the barcode stickers on the floor and avoiding collision, the robot navigates and arrives at the target location. It then slides under the pod, lifts it, and navigates to a human operator who will pick up the item.