<h2>Workout Bot</h2>
<p>Kenshiro and his younger &#8220;sibling&#8221; Kengoro are two robots that were built with unprecedented similarity to human anatomy at the <a href="http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/whyutokyo/wj_003.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Tokyo</a>. Their unique design make them able to move in ways looking closer to natural human movement than any preceding robot.</p>
<p>In fact, Kengoro&#8217;s exercising ability likely rivals many human couch potatoes. The robot can do sit-ups, push-ups, and even stretches. However, the most surprising ability Kengoro exhibits is sweating. The machinery that allows the robot to move like a human heats up, requiring water to circulate through its metal frame to cool it. Steam vents through holes in the skeleton to accomplish the cooling.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UF4TKJ6GXOA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>It&#8217;s perhaps counter-intuitive that the engineers created the two cousin robots to be able to study human movements in greater detail. But in the long term, these robots could be useful as crash-test dummies since their mobility could lead to more accurate readings than stationary dummies. As the technology progresses even further into the future, Kengoro and Kenshiro could be the inspiration for actual search and rescue robots.</p>
<h2>Road to Westworld</h2>
<p>At this point, there is no telling where the advancement of the marriage between humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence will eventually land us. We still seem to be quite far away from <a href="https://futurism.com/westworld-and-ai-experts-discuss-the-future-of-intelligent-machines/">Westworld level AI</a> and robots, where humans and robots are virtually indistinguishable. Still, it does look like we are getting closer to the possibility. Think about the huge step forward it would be to merge the human-like movement of Kengoro with the nearly human-level intelligence of <a href="https://futurism.com/sophiabot-asks-you-to-be-nice-so-she-can-learn-human-compassion/">Hanson Robotics&#8217; Sophia</a>, a feat that is likely more difficult than setting the two up on OkCupid.</p>
<p>Both technologies are growing at an increasingly rapid rate. The applications that such powerful tech will have on society is immeasurable but will definitely amount to more than a next-level tourist attraction. Making robots look, move, and even think more like us could make what some consider the hard pill of artificial intelligence easier to swallow.</p>


The model can do sit-ups, stretches, and push-ups in a way that perfectly mimics human movements.

The University of Tokyo has built a robot that sweats while exercising

Robots & Machines

The model's ability rivals many human couch potatoes. The robot can do sit-ups, push-ups, and stretches. Researchers will use it to study human movements.

The University of Tokyo Has Built a Robot That Sweats While Exercising

The bot can do push-ups way better than many of us.

<h2>Bipedal Backflip</h2>
<p>Boston Dynamics has released a new video of its humanoid robot Atlas demonstrating its newfound ability to <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/atlas-robot-does-backflips-now/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">perform a backflip</a>. In the video, the machine jumps onto a small podium, skillfully hops, turns 180 degrees, and then performs a smooth backward somersault and lands on the ground.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fRj34o4hN4I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Atlas has come a long way in recent years. When it was first unveiled, it was able to walk in a relatively human-like manner. Subsequent updates have made it more capable, especially when <a href="https://futurism.com/atlas-the-life-sized-robot-just-became-a-bit-more-human/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">navigating uneven surfaces</a>.</p>
<h2>Moving Forward</h2>
<p>Boston Dynamics recently unveiled the latest iteration of the SpotMini, a quadrupedal robot that&#8217;s <a href="https://futurism.com/boston-dynamics-spotmini-robot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">capable of bounding around at serious speeds with a life-like manner</a>. Having four legs as opposed to two makes it easier for this machine to walk around uninhibited by terrain, but a more humanoid design has other advantages.</p>
<p>Many of the spaces in which a robot like Atlas might be deployed are designed with humans in mind. The Atlas could potentially climb ladders and stairs, whereas a SpotMini wouldn&#8217;t be able to. Performing a backflip might not be the most practical form of movement in its arsenal, but it&#8217;s indicative of the wide range of motions that the robot is able to carry out without its balance failing.</p>
<p>There are still some major hurdles for humanoid robots like Atlas to overcome. For one, battery life is a concern, because its lower limbs are constantly working to balance its heavy upper body. Imitating precise motion, like the way individual fingers on a hand move to <a href="https://futurism.com/an-ai-robot-learned-how-to-pick-up-objects-after-training-only-in-the-virtual-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grip and manipulate objects,</a> is also a big challenge.</p>
<p>Still, Boston Dynamics is pushing the capabilities of bipedal and quadrupedal robots forward. As these machines become <a href="https://futurism.com/dubai-wants-robots-to-make-up-25-of-its-police-force-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a more normal part of everyday life</a>, these advances will continue to be increasingly useful.</p>


Robotics are jumping forward by leaps and bounds.

Boston Dynamics' bipedal robot can now do a backflip

Boston Dynamics' bipedal robot, Atlas, is able to perform a picture-perfect backflip. This development demonstrates how much the company has accomplished.

Boston Dynamics' Bipedal Robot Can Now Do a Backflip

A video demonstrates Atlas' newfound gymnastic capabilities.	

Boston Dynamics’ Bipedal Robot Can Now Do a Backflip

<h2>Rise of Robots</h2>
<p>A new report claims the market for humanoid robots will <a href="https://www.techrepublic.com/article/humanoid-robot-market-to-double-by-2023-industrial-robotics-to-hit-72b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expand tenfold by 2023</a>. Current estimates put its value at $320.3 million, but it&#8217;s projected to reach $3.9 billion within the next six years.</p>
<p>Many of the major potential applications for the technology <a href="https://futurism.com/are-robotic-teachers-the-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are found within the education sector</a> and the retail industry, where robots will be able to take on a swathe of customer service roles. Robots are also expected to be used in fields such as logistics and medicine as a vessel for <a href="https://futurism.com/stephen-hawking-ai-replace-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advanced artificial intelligence systems</a>.</p>
<p>There are some obstacles that could potentially slow the predicted growth, though: For one, robots are not yet as mobile as they would need to be for many of these roles, so improving their ability to traverse a wide range of environments quickly and safely will be crucial over the next few years.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q04Jt3Zux7A?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>While North and South America are the biggest force in the robotics market, over the six years the the report covered, it was forecasted that the fastest rate of growth in the industry will actually be in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC).</p>
<p>&#8220;APAC is likely to adopt humanoids for almost all the major applications during the forecast period,&#8221; <a href="http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/1222387-humanoid-robot-market-by-component-motion-type-biped-wheel-drive-application-education-and-entertainment-research-space-exploration-personal-assistance-and-caregiving-search-and-rescue-public-relations-st-to-2023.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reads the report</a>. &#8220;As the elderly population in APAC countries such as China and Japan is on the rise, the region is expected to employ humanoids for the personal assistance and caregiving application.&#8221;</p>
<h2>More Human Than Human</h2>
<p>We&#8217;re already seeing robots become a part of our daily lives, albeit at a cautious pace. Everything from <a href="https://futurism.com/videos/the-bot-is-working-with-yelp-to-deliver-food-autonomously/?src=featured" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delivery services</a> to <a href="https://futurism.com/dubai-wants-robots-to-make-up-25-of-its-police-force-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">police work</a> is being considered as a potential job opportunity for machines.</p>
<p>However, humanoid robots have a particularly high potential for growth because they can take on tasks that were previously the domain of humans alone. Whether it&#8217;s something as simple as holding a natural conversation, or a more complex role like providing care for an infant or an elderly person, there are times when a familiar presence is valued – even if the mind at work is a machine&#8217;s.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s no surprise that the market for this technology will skyrocket as robots  become increasingly capable of <a href="https://futurism.com/the-most-life-life-robots-ever-created/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mimicking some aspects of human behavior</a>; an ability that will only continue to improve as technology and innovation advances.</p>


Current estimates are at $320.3 million, but it's projected to reach $3.9 billion within the next six years.

Market for humanoid robots set to grow ten times by 2023

Mobile World Congress 2017

As these technological developments begin to be implemented in industry, the market for humanoid robots is set to skyrocket.

Market for Humanoid Robots Set to Grow Ten Times by 2023

Demand from the medical, retail, and education industries will foster this expansion.

<h2>Handy Bots</h2>
<p>It’s quite common for humans – especially those who work in manufacturing – to tie a knot, strip the casing off a cable, insert a pin in a hole or use a hand tool such as a drill. They may seem like simple tasks, but are really very complex and involve <a href="http://www.assemblymag.com/articles/91345-conquering-complexity">extremely fine finger and hand motions</a>. <img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/73831/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p>
<p>Though robots are getting more and more involved in factory work and in a wide range of other types of jobs – including in the service industry and health care – their dexterity is not nearly as impressive. Since people first brought them to <a href="https://www.robots.com/education/industrial-history">work in automotive factories more than 50 years ago</a>, we have built robots that can weld, paint and assemble parts quite well. Today’s best robotic hands can pick up familiar objects and move them to other places – such as taking products from warehouse bins and putting them in boxes.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rVlhMGQgDkY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<figure><figcaption><span class="caption">Among today’s best robotic movements.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>But robots can’t orient a hand tool properly – say, lining up a Phillips head screwdriver with the grooves on a screw, or aiming a hammer at a nail. And they definitely can’t use two hands together in detailed ways, like replacing the batteries in a remote control.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JKlkN2CGRp4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<figure><figcaption><span class="caption">A NASA Valkyrie robot picks up an item in a test in our lab.</span></figcaption></figure>
<p>Human hands are excellent at those tasks <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ToH.2012.53">and much more</a>. To even come close to rivaling what our hands are easily capable of, robot hands need better agility, reliability and strength – and they need to be able to sense more accurately and move even more finely than they do now, to figure out what they’re holding and how to grip it best. For <a href="https://theconversation.com/introducing-operator-4-0-a-tech-augmented-human-worker-74117">robots to be able to work alongside humans</a>, we’ll have to figure out how to make robots that can <a href="http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/industrial-robots/collaborative-robots-innovation-growth-driver">literally lend us a hand</a> when our own two are not enough.</p>
<p>My research group at Northeastern University is working on doing just this, in particular for humanoid robots like <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/valkyrie/">NASA’s Valkyrie</a>, which has three fingers and a thumb on each hand. Each digit has knuckle-like joints, and each hand has a wrist that can rotate easily. We’re working on creating motions – combinations of arm, wrist, finger and thumb movements that collectively accomplish a task, like moving a wrench in a circle to tighten a bolt, or pulling a cart from one place to another.</p>
<p><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/05/image-20170405-14607-1qtuoe1.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<h2>The Importance of Hands</h2>
<p>Rather than making each robot a custom machine tailored for a very specific task, we need to design multi-use robots, or even such capable machines that they might be called “general purpose” – good for almost any task. One key to the success of these types of robots will be excellent hands.</p>
<p>Our work focuses on designing a new class of adaptable robot hands capable of precise fine movements and autonomous grasping. When robots are able to hammer in nails, change batteries and make other similar movements – basic for humans but very complex for robots – we’ll be well on our way to human-like dexterity in robotic hands.</p>
<p>Achieving this goal also involves inventing new designs that incorporate hard and soft elements – the way human bone gives strength to a grip, with skin spreading the pressure so a wine glass doesn’t shatter.</p>
<h2>Faster Development and Testing</h2>
<p>Modern technological improvements are making the development process easier. With 3D printing, we can make prototypes very quickly. We can even make low-cost disposable components to try different arrangements of mechanisms, like two- or three-fingered grippers for simple <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44989-0_23">pick-and-place</a> tasks or anthropomorphic robot hands for more delicate operations.</p>
<p>These abilities are already second nature to humans through vision and proprioception (the ability to sense the relative positions of body parts without looking or thinking about it). Once we’re able to achieve them in robots, they’ll be able to do things like detect if a grasp is too strong and is squeezing an object too hard.As electronic cameras and sensors get smaller, we’re able to incorporate them in new ways. For instance, if we put pressure sensors and cameras in a robotic hand, they can give feedback to the robot controller (whether human or automated) when a grip is secure, or if something starts to slip. One day they may be able to sense which direction the slipping object is moving, so the robot can catch it.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eE-BW_VpZpc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Planning Coordinated Movements</h2>
<p>Another milestone will be developing methods for robots to figure out what motions they need to make in real time, including sensing what’s going on in their hands at each moment. If a robot hand can detect changes in objects it is handling, or manipulate items while holding them, they could help with those common manual tasks like knot-tying and wire-stripping.</p>
<p>Working with two hands together is even farther into the future, though it would provide a significant boost, particularly for manufacturing. A robot that can operate a drill with two hands or pass machine parts from one hand to the other would be big improvements, allowing factories to automate even more steps in their processes.</p>
<figure style="width: 754px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/05/image-20170405-14593-of7jgy.jpg" alt="" width="754" height="502" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Is this the robot of the future? <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-looks-to-university-robotics-groups-to-advance-latest-humanoid-robot">NASA</a></figcaption></figure>
<p>We humans haven’t developed these systems yet. Achieving human-like autonomous robot dexterity will keep robotics researchers, technologists and innovators busy in the foreseeable future. It won’t slow down the ongoing robotics revolution in manufacturing, because current processes still have lots of room for automation to improve safety, speed and quality. But as we make robots even better, they’ll be able to give us a hand.</p>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/taskin-padir-342753">Taskin Padir</a>, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/northeastern-university-1644">Northeastern University</a></em></p>
<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/making-robots-that-can-work-with-their-hands-73831">original article</a>.</p>
<p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/73831/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p>


An appreciation for hand dexterity is inspiring robotics innovators to develop ways of improving hand function in robots.

The Next Generation of Robots Will Be Remarkably Human-Like

It's all about putting the future in better hands.

<p>When you think of robots, you might start thinking about robot workers that are taking jobs or <a href="https://futurism.com/banning-killer-robots-wont-stop-robots-from-killing/">killer robots</a> taking lives. But robots aren&#8217;t all intimidating. Just look at BALLU. This humanoid robot is essentially a <a href="http://www.popsci.com/bipedal-robot-with-balloon-body">walking blimp</a> designed to &#8220;change the direction of gravity,&#8221; allowing it to walk and never fall over.</p>
<p>BALLU, or <a href="http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/ballu-uclas-humanoid-blimp-robot">Buoyancy Assisted Lightweight Legged Unit</a>, was designed by <a href="http://www.romela.org/" target="_blank">UCLA’s Robotics &amp; Mechanisms Laboratory</a> and unveiled at the <a href="http://www.humanoids2016.org/" target="_blank">2016 IEEE International Conference on Humanoid Robots</a>. It is a helium balloon outfitted with a pair of thin articulated legs with only one degree of freedom, at the knees.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EdSoUbXirVI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>BALLU has actuators, communications, and power components at its feet, which gives it a lot of stability. The robot can walk forward, walk backward, step sideways, turn, hop, and even walk on water and land from a fall as gracefully as a cat. Its construction allows it to be lightweight, low cost, and inherently safe.</p>
<p>Right now, BALLU is more of a walking information bot than anything else, but the video the creators showed hints at future versions, including one that can carry more weight, one that has arms and legs, and another that can carry bigger loads. We&#8217;ll just have to wait to see how this humanoid bot evolves.</p>


UCLA's humanoid robot BALLU is a helium balloon outfitted with a pair of thin articulated legs with only one degree of freedom at the knees.
This lightweight bot can walk forward and backward, step sideways, turn, hop, and even walk on water, and its creators are already planning future versions.

This Eerie, Spider-Legged Robot Can Walk and Never Fall Over

This lightweight humanoid bot can hop, turn, and even walk on water.

<p><a href="https://futurism.com/scientists-made-a-new-humanoid-robot-that-walks-just-like-a-human/">One of the primary challenges </a>with bigger robots is making them move without falling over. Big, human-sized robots either can&#8217;t walk at all, or they walk like a one-legged man having a seizure. Balance, stability, grace—these are the things we have yet to see in a humanoid robot.</p>
<p>Now, we may finally have a contender. Boston Dynamics has been working on the Atlas robot, and new work from IHMC shows that it <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/robots/a22800/boston-dynamics-atlas-balance/?src=socialflowTW">can balance on a piece of wood</a> as well as any person can.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JgZVk8Pzhf0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>In the video, we can see Atlas balancing on a thin piece of wood for thirty seconds. But its not just the balancing part that&#8217;s awesome—its seeing a robot move, shift its weight, and react like an actual person.</p>
<p>Notably, <a href="http://techgenmag.com/2014/10/atlas-robot-gets-closer-to-walking-like-a-human/">its original specs</a> were meant to make it humanoid. It has a height of approximately 1.8 meters (6 feet) and a weight of 150 kg (330 pounds). It&#8217;s also fairly robust—it&#8217;s made of aircraft-grade titanium and aluminum with blue LED lights mounted inside its chest.</p>
<p>Remarkably, its reaction when it finally loses to gravity even mimics how a person would when taking a tumble, twisting its torso in the opposite direction.</p>


Artificial Intelligence

A new video was just released of Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot balancing on a piece of wood. Just like a regular human, you can watch it shift, shake, and move to stay on the beam, thanks to a control algorithm by IHMC.

Watch Boston Dynamics’ Atlas Robot Balance Like A Real Human

We're one step closer to robots that are truly like humans. 

With its lifelike rubber flesh, crazy eyes, and human-like facial expression, Hanson Robotics’ Sophia debuted at this year’s SXSW, and its message to humankind? “OK, I will destroy humans.”

With its lifelike rubber flesh, crazy eyes, and human-like facial expression, Hanson Robotics' Sophia debuted at this year's SXSW, and its message to humankind? “OK, I will destroy humans.”

Sophia The Robot Says She Will Destroy Humankind

<p><a href="https://unit.aist.go.jp/is/cie/group/jrllabo_e.html">Joint Robotics Laboratory</a> and the <a href="http://www.airbusgroup.com/">Airbus Group</a> have merged together to launch a new Joint Research Program. This new partnership aims to develop humanoid robots that will be used for aviation manufacturing.</p>
<p>“Given the unique nature of aviation assembly and the specialized character of the tasks involved, Airbus Group has very well-defined needs,” explains Abderrahmane Kheddar, the director of the JRL. “For instance, robots must be capable of navigating through narrow spaces such as fuselages, and executing complex tasks from a variety of positions. In short, the manufacturer needs humanoid robots that can make human movements such as kneeling or leaning, and that can perform more sophisticated functions, such as screwing or torqueing,” adds Adrien Escande, the leader of the joint research program.</p>
<p>Since 2004, the team has been making advanced functions on the robots a reality rather than just science fiction.</p>
<p>“By combining Japanese expertise in hardware and robotics along with advanced French knowledge of mathematics and algorithms, we made encouraging initial progress in fields such as robot design and haptics, or tactile perception,” continues Kheddar. “We are now building on these achievements to develop multi-contact locomotion, which enables humanoid robots to move using not just their feet, but also other body parts such as elbows, knees, and hands, as a human would when crawling.&#8221;</p>
<h5>New breed of humanoid robots</h5>
<p>The project is called COMANOID (Multi-Contact Collaborative Humanoids) European research. They are focusing on the qualities that the robots will need to assist the aviation industry. In short, these humanoids need to be able to kneel, lean, and balance themselves on uneven surfaces. They have to be &#8220;trained&#8221; in safely moving around the passengers, the aircraft, and their fellow humanoids. They also need to perform tasks, like simple repairs and placing objects in their proper storage places.</p>
<p>The team is expanding these basics by working on more intricate movements that require improvement in two key areas: robot control and planning.</p>
<p>“To illustrate what this means, try to imagine a rock-climber,” suggests Adrien Escande. “To take the next step on a rock face, they must think ahead by identifying possible foot and handholds, and by deciding which movements to make, and in what sequence. This is the planning function. Then there is the control function, which enables the climber to adapt their movements in real-time based on uncalculated events, such as a slip or a gust of wind. We are currently using numerical optimization techniques and advanced algorithms to improve capacity in both of these areas.”</p>
<p>One example is having the humanoid open a panel in an aircraft at knee level. It has to accurately calculate its movements by knowing where to kneel, how to grasp handles, and where to place its hands for support and balance. The calculations should allow the humanoid to react immediately. In a situation where the humanoid needs to assist a human worker, it should be able to anticipate the human&#8217;s movements in real time. They should be able to work hand in hand in milliseconds.</p>
<p>No easy task.</p>
<p>To achieve this amazing feat, the researchers needed to model the robot&#8217;s perception and behavior. Everything that the humanoid does is based from mathematics. An action is translated as a mathematical problem, which then becomes an equation. The next step is to &#8220;solve&#8221; the mathematical problem using algorithms developed by scientists.</p>
<figure id="attachment_23689" style="width: 664px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-23689 size-full" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2016/02/montage_robot_jrp_3.jpg" alt="Joint Robotics Laboratory (CNRS/AIST)/AIRBUS SAS 2015/CNRS-AIST" width="664" height="403" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Joint Robotics Laboratory (CNRS/AIST)/AIRBUS SAS 2015/CNRS-AIST</figcaption></figure>
<p>In the example given previously, about a humanoid opening a panel at knee-length, several calculations need to take place, such as balance, distance  and counter-balancing force. For humans, our body adjusts automatically in these types of situations. For robots, we need to program them to &#8220;adjust&#8221; automatically using algorithms like bipedal locomotion, fall control, and contact force distribution.</p>
<h5>The robots of the future</h5>
<p>With all of the impressive algorithms in place, the team is still trying to improve the robot&#8217;s learning capacity. They plan to &#8220;teach&#8221; these machines to eventually search information over the Internet by themselves.</p>
<p>This &#8220;self-learning&#8221; project is called <a href="https://robohow.eu/">RoboHow</a>.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the project will help robots learn new tasks such as cooking or putting paper in the printer simply by reading information from the Internet. These instructions will be stored in their knowledge base for future use. These various sources are then integrated by the robot in order to carry out the task. Eventually, they want to see robots that are independent and can  find solutions to problems on their own.</p>
<h5>Aviation robots</h5>
<p>Aside from airplanes, the humanoid robots will be adapted for helicopter and aerospace activities. Soon, they will also be used in other industries such as train or ship building, where there are more complex tasks at hand.</p>
<p>“It should be very clear that these humanoids are not intended to replace workers, but rather to offer them better working conditions by freeing them from chores that are physically-taxing or that involve contact with pollutants,” concludes Kheddar. “This enables workers to focus on the more skilled and value-added aspects of their activities. In other words, these robots are sophisticated tools intended to assist them as part of a synergistic human-robot collaboration.”</p>
<p><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/154736263" width="500" height="281"frameborder="0" title="MCP-Compilation" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe></p>


A new breed of humanoid robots may soon be serving your plane meal onboard an Airbus.

New Humanoid Robots to Help on Airbus Planes

<h5>Empathy for Robots</h5>
<p>With robotics rapidly advancing, there will soon come a time where interactions with robots will become regular in society. In human to human interaction, empathy plays a major role in being able to relate and connect with others. As robots continue to play a larger role in our daily lives, the question remains: can we empathize with machines?</p>
<p>Researchers from Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan  showed 15 volunteers 56 different photographs of both a human and a human-shaped robot hand in situations depicting different states of bodily harm. They attached EEG devices to the volunteers to measure their neurological responses to each image. What they found was that humans showed similar empathic neural responses to the robots as they did to other humans. The researchers attributed these empathy levels to the human-like design of the robot hand.</p>
<p><a href="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2015/11/w576.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8637" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2015/11/w576.jpg" alt="w576" width="575" height="215" /></a></p>
<h5>Attributing Humanity to Machines</h5>
<p>In the <em>Scientific Reports </em>journal, the researchers wrote that<i> </i>“humans can attribute humanity to robots and feel their pain because the basic shape of the robot hand in the present study was the same as that of the human hand.” The researchers will now be looking into how empathy levels are affected when volunteers are shown a differently-shaped robot hand. For now, we&#8217;ll have to wait and see if empathy can carry humanity across <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley">uncanny valley</a>.</p>


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A new study by Japanese researchers reveals that humans have a tendency to feel empathetic towards robots that they perceive to have human-like qualities.

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