Figure’s Humanoid Robots Showcase Cutting-Edge Abilities with Helix AI

Have you ever imagined a future where robots can help you with household chores or efficiently manage a busy assembly line? Figure, a pioneering robot manufacturer, has taken a huge step towards that reality. They recently revealed stunning new videos showcasing their Figure 02 humanoid robots working together to put away groceries and sort packages—all thanks to the innovative Helix AI.

What is Helix AI?

Figure’s Helix AI is a vision-language-action model that allows the robots to understand complex verbal commands and act on them. In a recent demo, two Figure 02 robots were tasked with putting away groceries that a human had placed on the counter. What’s exciting is that these robots were interacting with items they had never encountered before!

Imagine telling your robotic assistant to put the cheese in the fridge, the cookies in the cupboard, and the apple in the fruit bowl. The robots showed remarkable coordination as they moved simultaneously—one robot picking up the fruit bowl while the other reached for the apple. This synchronization is made possible because both robots operate on the same neural network weights, enabling effective collaboration and quick task-switching.

Sorting Packages Like Pros

The company also unveiled a video featuring multiple Figure 02 robots sorting packages on an assembly line. With a rich 3D understanding facilitated by their dual-camera system, these robots can see and interpret their surroundings in ways that mimic human depth perception. Unlike human eyes, which are positioned side by side, the Figure 02 robots’ stereovision uses one camera above the other. This design gives them a significant edge when it comes to spatial awareness.

In the package-sorting demo, the robots demonstrated their adaptability by arranging unfamiliar objects correctly and even making corrections when they accidentally misaligned items. It’s truly a sight to behold!

Real-World Applications

While these lab demos are impressive, they raise important questions about the robots’ capabilities in real-world settings. For instance, in the grocery demo, all items were neatly laid out and well-lit—quite different from a typical grocery bag filled with odds and ends. The true challenge will be whether these humanoid robots can operate safely and reliably in chaotic environments like our homes, workplaces, or beyond.

As thrilling as it is to witness these advancements, Figure faces notable competition in the robotics realm. Companies like Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, and Tesla are already showcasing robots performing similar tasks, which means the race for automation supremacy is very much on.

The Future of Robotics

So, where does this leave us? The demos provide glimpses of Figure 02’s capabilities in key settings: the labor force, at home, and potentially, in space. The exciting possibilities are endless, but we’re still in the early stages of understanding how these technologies will integrate into our daily lives.

To truly appreciate the innovation behind these robotic creations, check out the videos at the top of this article.

The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.