Renowned Roboticist Warns Humanoid Robot Bubble Is Doomed to Burst
Rodney Brooks, a pioneer in the field of robotics, has sounded the alarm on the current trend of investing heavily in humanoid robot startups. In a recent essay, Brooks, who co-founded iRobot and spent decades at MIT, expressed his skepticism about companies like Tesla and Figure attempting to teach robots dexterity by showing them videos of humans performing tasks.
"This approach is pure fantasy thinking," Brooks wrote. "Human hands are incredibly sophisticated, packed with about 17,000 specialized touch receptors that no robot comes close to matching."
Brooks' criticism centers on the fact that machine learning has transformed speech recognition and image processing, but these breakthroughs built on decades of existing technology for capturing the right data. In contrast, there is no similar tradition for collecting and analyzing touch data.
"The problem is that we don't have a way to capture the complexity of human touch," Brooks explained in an interview. "We're trying to teach robots to do things they can't even perceive."
Furthermore, Brooks highlighted the safety concerns associated with full-sized walking humanoid robots. These machines pump massive amounts of energy into staying upright and, when they fall, can be hazardous.
"Physics means that a robot twice the size of today's models would pack eight times the harmful energy," Brooks warned. "We're playing with fire here."
Brooks predicts that in 15 years, successful humanoid robots will abandon their human form and instead feature wheels, multiple arms, and specialized sensors.
"We'll see robots that are designed for specific tasks, like manufacturing or logistics," Brooks said. "They won't be trying to mimic humans; they'll be optimized for performance."
Brooks' views have sparked debate within the robotics community, with some experts defending the approach of humanoid robot development.
"While we appreciate Dr. Brooks' concerns, we believe that our research is focused on creating robots that can assist and augment human capabilities," said a spokesperson for Tesla.
However, Brooks remains unconvinced.
"We're not making progress in the way we think we are," he asserted. "We need to take a step back and rethink our approach."
As investors continue to pour billions into humanoid robot startups, Brooks' warning serves as a reminder that the field of robotics is complex and multifaceted. While some companies may be chasing a fantasy, others are working on practical solutions that could revolutionize industries.
In the end, it remains to be seen whether Brooks' predictions will come true or if the humanoid robot bubble will burst in 15 years. One thing is certain: the future of robotics will be shaped by innovation and experimentation, not fantasy thinking.
Background: Rodney Brooks co-founded iRobot in 1990 and spent decades at MIT, where he was a professor of computer science and artificial intelligence. He has written extensively on robotics and artificial intelligence and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field.
Additional perspectives:
Dr. Brooks' essay can be found online at [link].
Tesla's humanoid robot development is part of its broader effort to create autonomous vehicles and robots that can assist humans.
Figure, another company working on humanoid robots, has raised significant funding from investors in recent years.
The robotics community continues to debate the merits of humanoid robot development, with some experts arguing that it holds promise for tasks like healthcare and education.
*Reporting by Techcrunch.*
