Introduction
The rise of humanoid robots has been a topic of significant interest in recent years, with many companies investing heavily in their development. However, one of the major concerns about these robots is their cost, which can be prohibitively expensive for many applications. In this article, we will explore a new solution that promises to change the game by providing similar capabilities to humanoid robots at a fraction of the cost.
A Major Concern: Expense of Humanoid Robots
A major concern about humanoid robots is their expense, but mobile manipulators provide an alternative. ObotX has patented a unique kinematic that provides a similar range of motion to a dual-armed, humanoid robot, but at a much lower price point. The company is looking for partners to take “Elon” to market.
ObotX offers its system with an open-source license that makes all content, patents, drawings, instructions, and software, free to use for personal and research purposes. It is working on an official website and plans to make a commercial license available on a royalty basis.
Humanoid Robots Will Be Expensive
The humanoid robot market has matured at a rapid pace over the last two years. High-profile product launches included those of Agility Robotics, Tesla, Boston Dynamics, Figure AI, Apptronik, Unitree, and Sanctuary AI.
All of these companies’ robots are currently expensive and their utility is still unproven. A humanoid can have more than 25 motors/actuators and over 30 degrees of freedom.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed that his company will get Optimus below $20,000. He said that that once humanoids are available at this price point, they will become ubiquitous. Today, most humanoids are coming to market costing over $100,000.
A similar example is industrial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Most of these systems have two drive motors and are listed for more than $40,000.
It currently seems unlikely that humanoid developers will soon be able to achieve a list price of $20,000 and a respective bill of materials (BOM) of less than $10,000 (at 50% margin). These price points will not be possible until these systems are produced in the hundreds of thousands of units.
ObotX Claims Similar Functionality with Less Complexity
ObotX has designed its mobile manipulation system with inexpensive linear and rotary actuators on top of an AMR. It asserted that its platform can deliver a similar range of motion and actuation to that of a humanoid.
The company said that integrating fewer actuators will help to bring down the BOM cost. Not only does ObotX’s kinematic design have fewer actuators, but it can also take advantage of maturing AMRs, which don’t require bipedal agility for many use cases.
ObotX provides more information about Elon at its Patreon site.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ObotX’s new mobile manipulation system offers a promising solution to the high cost of humanoid robots. With its unique kinematic design and inexpensive actuators, ObotX is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with its innovative technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is ObotX’s new mobile manipulation system?
ObotX’s new mobile manipulation system is a unique kinematic design that provides a similar range of motion and actuation to that of a humanoid robot, but at a much lower price point.
Q: What makes ObotX’s system different from other humanoid robots?
ObotX’s system integrates fewer actuators than other humanoid robots, which helps to bring down the cost of production. Additionally, ObotX’s system can take advantage of maturing AMRs, which don’t require bipedal agility for many use cases.
Q: Is ObotX’s system open-source?
Yes, ObotX’s system is available with an open-source license that allows for free use for personal and research purposes. A commercial license will also be available on a royalty basis.
Q: What is the current price of ObotX’s system?
The current price of ObotX’s system has not been disclosed, but the company is looking for partners to take “Elon” to market.
Q: What is the expected market value of ObotX’s system?
The expected market value of ObotX’s system is not clear, but the company hopes to revolutionize the robotics industry with its innovative technology.
Q: What is the future of humanoid robots?
The future of humanoid robots is uncertain, but it is clear that they will continue to be a topic of significant interest in the robotics industry. With the development of ObotX’s new mobile manipulation system, we may see a shift towards more affordable and practical humanoid robots in the future.
