The Hyundai Motor Group purchased a controlling share in Boston Dynamics for US$800 million again in 2020, impressed by the potential of its array of world-leading humanoid, quadrupedal and different robots. Now it is investing half that once more to develop AI.
Hyundai is founding a brand new Boston Dynamics AI Institute, headquartered within the Kendall Sq. analysis precinct in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The brand new facility can be a research-first group devoted to “fixing crucial and tough challenges dealing with the creation of superior robots,” taking an academia-meets-the-commercial-lab strategy.
The Institute’s core analysis areas can be athletic AI, natural {hardware} design … and sure, cognitive AI. There can even be analysis into the less-technical – however crucial – areas of ethics and coverage, as they intersect with this highly-charged area.
“Our mission is to create future generations of superior robots and clever machines which can be smarter, extra agile, perceptive and safer than something that exists at present,” mentioned Marc Raibert, who based Boston Dynamics again in 1992 as an MIT spinoff, and who will function government director of the brand new Institute. “The distinctive construction of the Institute – high expertise centered on elementary options with sustained funding and wonderful technical assist – will assist us create robots which can be simpler to make use of, extra productive, in a position to carry out a greater diversity of duties, and which can be safer working with individuals.”
Boston Dynamics
Whereas they could look fairly completely different, self-driving automobiles can very a lot be considered as autonomous robots as nicely, and Hyundai can also be investing in a separate International Software program Heart, centered on autonomous driving and mobility platforms. There might be areas the place the 2 new entities might intersect.
In the meantime, Boston Dynamics continues to work on industrial functions for its versatile Spot robotic canine, in addition to its newer Stretch robotic, a mesmerizing cellular platform developed round field dealing with and warehouse work.
Boston Dynamics
The true world is a considerably harsher stage than a YouTube video, and we do not get the impression that Boston Dynamic’s merchandise are setting the world alight the way in which their movies have. However Hyundai has doubled down on its dedication, and AI will definitely be a vital discipline within the general-purpose robotics discipline, so there’s each probability this new Institute may maintain Boston Dynamics out in entrance of the sphere for years, or a long time, to come back.
Supply: Boston Dynamics AI Institute