![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Sophia_at_the_AI_for_Good_Global_Summit_2018_27254369347_cropped-807x1024.jpg\")
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Sophia, the Robot Celebrity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nInvented and developed by David Hanson of Hanson Robotics, Sophia was first activated in February 2016. When compared to the Hong Kong-based company\u2019s earlier robotic models, Sophia was the most advanced with much more human-like reactions and conversational capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cognitive software and AI system that powers Sophia was developed by Hanson Robotics, as well as the artificial \u201cskin\u201d that covers its face and arms. Their hope for this \u201cholistic\u201d approach to robots as complete synthetic organisms is that they would grow in goal-oriented logic, cognizance, and more natural conversation. Sophia is described by its creators as having \u201chybrid human-AI intelligence\u201d. The text-to-speech engine from the company CereProc lends itself to Sophia\u2019s voice synthesis capabilities, allowing it to not only speak, but sing. This was demonstrated as a duet with Jimmy Fallon<\/a> on The Tonight Show in 2018. Sophia was also notably given citizenship in Saudi Arabia in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTwo years ago, Hanson Robotics unveiled Sophia 2020<\/strong>, which is equipped with the movement and speech tools required for both corporate and scholarly applications. Sophia 2020 has sensors capable of body tracking and face recognition, and has a large variety of physical contact activities that can be automated. As a robot designed for use in either healthcare \/ service or research, Sophia 2020 is incredibly customizable in both appearance and programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Mid-shot](\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Tekniska_museet_-_BugWarp_63-1024x684.jpg\")
The Robothespian, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nAMECA, THE BLANK SLATE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile Hanson Robotics is continually innovating their robots to complete hands-on service tasks to assist in healthcare or corporate fields, the UK-based company Engineered Arts centers their focus on humanoid robots for entertainment. Their Robothespian<\/strong> robot, pictured above, is most often used to draw large crowds at events and exhibitions. While Engineered Arts does have Mesmer<\/strong>, (robots that are incredibly human and lifelike in their appearance), their newest robot was made specifically to combat the effects of the \u201cUncanny Valley\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis robot is Ameca<\/strong>. While its body is composed of circuitry and hardware that\u2019s meant to be shown off, it features gray \u201cskin\u201d on its face and hands that was developed by the company. It is run on a software framework called Tritium, which was developed in-house at Engineered Arts over a decade ago. In a video demo released in December 2021<\/a>, Ameca\u2019s range of motion and incredibly human gesture articulation were put on display. Many viewers thought the fluidity with which Ameca moved its face and limbs seemed almost like CGI.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAmeca is truly made to be a blank slate for the user. While it does use AI software or automated speech recognition (through the Google Cloud Speech-to-Text API), Ameca\u2019s primary objective is to serve as a platform to further the development of AI. It is also modular by design, making future upgrades or customizations easy for the user.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/MWC21_-_25-1024x763.jpg\")
The Alysis by Boston Dynamics, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nATLAS, THE MOBILE MARVEL<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile Sophia and Ameca are capable of groundbreaking facial expressions, gestures, and human-like interactions with people, they both lack the full ability to display one distinctly human trait- walking. This type of bipedal mobility is where the Atlas by Boston Dynamics excels. In a video released in August 2021<\/a>, two Atlas units can be seen performing incredible feats of balance and athleticism on a parkour course. These advanced controls are thanks to one of the smallest transportable hydraulic systems in the world, which powers Atlas\u2019 28 hydraulic joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile Atlas may not have a humanoid face or artificial skin, it uses AI to employ algorithmic reasoning as its body interacts and moves with the space around it. Sensors are used for depth perception, and trajectory optimization makes Atlas capable of storing complex movement routines into behavioral libraries. This type of AI is referred to by the creators as \u201cAthletic Intelligence\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hope for Atlas is that it can be used for commercial applications that will reduce danger or risk of certain activities for humans. However, the Massachusetts-based company operates under strict ethical principles, in which they state that they will not partner with any entities looking to use their robots as weapons or for harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe question remains: how close are we to the robot-human relationships we see in our favorite movies? While technology is innovating at an incredible rate, the difference between robots and AI is key. While robots are becoming more articulated, mobile, and overall more humanoid: the computer coding capabilities behind the AI that powers them is not at the level of human consciousness\u2026yet. While we cannot yet have a conversation with a sentient robot (\u00e0 la Dave in 2001: A Space Odyssey), we are capable of working together to advance the technology that allows us to understand both robots and humans better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two years ago, Hanson Robotics unveiled Sophia 2020<\/strong>, which is equipped with the movement and speech tools required for both corporate and scholarly applications. Sophia 2020 has sensors capable of body tracking and face recognition, and has a large variety of physical contact activities that can be automated. As a robot designed for use in either healthcare \/ service or research, Sophia 2020 is incredibly customizable in both appearance and programming.<\/p>\n\n\n While Hanson Robotics is continually innovating their robots to complete hands-on service tasks to assist in healthcare or corporate fields, the UK-based company Engineered Arts centers their focus on humanoid robots for entertainment. Their Robothespian<\/strong> robot, pictured above, is most often used to draw large crowds at events and exhibitions. While Engineered Arts does have Mesmer<\/strong>, (robots that are incredibly human and lifelike in their appearance), their newest robot was made specifically to combat the effects of the \u201cUncanny Valley\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This robot is Ameca<\/strong>. While its body is composed of circuitry and hardware that\u2019s meant to be shown off, it features gray \u201cskin\u201d on its face and hands that was developed by the company. It is run on a software framework called Tritium, which was developed in-house at Engineered Arts over a decade ago. In a video demo released in December 2021<\/a>, Ameca\u2019s range of motion and incredibly human gesture articulation were put on display. Many viewers thought the fluidity with which Ameca moved its face and limbs seemed almost like CGI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ameca is truly made to be a blank slate for the user. While it does use AI software or automated speech recognition (through the Google Cloud Speech-to-Text API), Ameca\u2019s primary objective is to serve as a platform to further the development of AI. It is also modular by design, making future upgrades or customizations easy for the user.<\/p>\n\n\n While Sophia and Ameca are capable of groundbreaking facial expressions, gestures, and human-like interactions with people, they both lack the full ability to display one distinctly human trait- walking. This type of bipedal mobility is where the Atlas by Boston Dynamics excels. In a video released in August 2021<\/a>, two Atlas units can be seen performing incredible feats of balance and athleticism on a parkour course. These advanced controls are thanks to one of the smallest transportable hydraulic systems in the world, which powers Atlas\u2019 28 hydraulic joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Atlas may not have a humanoid face or artificial skin, it uses AI to employ algorithmic reasoning as its body interacts and moves with the space around it. Sensors are used for depth perception, and trajectory optimization makes Atlas capable of storing complex movement routines into behavioral libraries. This type of AI is referred to by the creators as \u201cAthletic Intelligence\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hope for Atlas is that it can be used for commercial applications that will reduce danger or risk of certain activities for humans. However, the Massachusetts-based company operates under strict ethical principles, in which they state that they will not partner with any entities looking to use their robots as weapons or for harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The question remains: how close are we to the robot-human relationships we see in our favorite movies? While technology is innovating at an incredible rate, the difference between robots and AI is key. While robots are becoming more articulated, mobile, and overall more humanoid: the computer coding capabilities behind the AI that powers them is not at the level of human consciousness\u2026yet. While we cannot yet have a conversation with a sentient robot (\u00e0 la Dave in 2001: A Space Odyssey), we are capable of working together to advance the technology that allows us to understand both robots and humans better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAMECA, THE BLANK SLATE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
ATLAS, THE MOBILE MARVEL<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n