CEO of Shadow Robot Company, Rich Walker, discusses advancements in AI hardware, robotic hand design, and collaboration with Google DeepMind. They explore innovative sensor technologies, cost-effective solutions, and plans for integrating robotic hands into systems for real-world applications.
The Shadow Robot Company emphasizes the importance of superior hardware for market differentiation in industrial AI.
The innovative robot hand design by Shadow Robot Company focuses on dexterity, reliability, and advanced tactile sensing for enhanced object manipulation capabilities.
Deep dives
Robot Hardware Differentiation
The Shadow Robot Company from the UK advocates that differentiation in the market comes from superior hardware. In the podcast, they unveil a new robot hand developed over five years, emphasizing the critical role of hardware in innovation. The company's collaboration with Google DeepMind focused on minimal AI integration in their hardware, exhibiting a unique approach compared to AI-driven advancements in other sectors.
Real-World Applications of AI and Robotics
The podcast highlights the shift towards applying powerful AI algorithms in real-world robotic systems, moving beyond virtual tasks. Shadow Robot Company envisions using AI tools to address longstanding challenges in robotics, such as complex object manipulation in diverse environments. Existing robot handlers like Amazon are limited by domain constraints, fueling the Company's focus on enhancing real-world robot capabilities.
Innovative Modular Robot Hand Design
Shadow Robot Company's innovative robot hand design signifies a departure from anthropomorphic structures towards prioritizing dexterity and reliability. The new modular finger design integrates N plus one actuation, ensuring continuous force application across joints for enhanced flexibility. Employing advanced tactile sensing technologies, including Hall effect sensors and stereo cameras, the robot hand can detect delicate touches and withstand substantial forces, revolutionizing object handling capabilities.
NVIDIA earns its money with hardware, in the UK the developers of Shadow Robot Company also earn their money with hardware. They are building the robotic hand, which is designed to make AI-based robotics possible. We talk to the CEO Rich Walker.
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