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Figure right now unveiled its Figure 01 humanoid robotic and demonstrated dynamic bipedal strolling publically for the primary time. The firm has grown to 60 workers during the last yr and contains engineers throughout AI, controls, embedded software program, electrical, mechanical, actuator design, battery, integration and testing. The firm introduced its $70M spherical in May 2023 and developed the robotic in somewhat over 12 months.
As proven within the video above, Figure 01 sports activities a pleasant, shiny steel exterior. This is totally different from the simulated variations proven in prior illustrations of the robotic up to now. There will probably be some evolution within the product end earlier than launch.
This close-up of the Figure 01 shoulder reveals the element of the motor configuration for the shoulder and arm joints. | Credit: Figure
All of the key joints look like articulated with rotary motors. This model of the robotic features a backpack for the battery.
Here’s a fast abstract of the levels of freedom (DoF) for this model of the robotic:
Arms: 7 DoF
Waist: 3 DoF
Legs/Ankle/foot: 6 DoF
Head: 0 DoF
Hand: 6 DoF
Total: 41 DoF
The arms have 4 fingers and an opposable thumb, and every phalange is a straightforward two-bar design (simplifying the design). The foot and ankle is a straightforward articulating platform.
Figure 01 has 6 DoF arms with simplified digits. | Credit: Figure
The Figure workforce was in a position to obtain dynamic bipedal strolling in underneath a yr, which the corporate claims to be one of many quickest turnarounds in humanoid historical past.
Figure 01 makes use of torque-controlled strolling, which tells the robotic what torque to use at its joints as a substitute of the place or how briskly it’s going. This ought to assist Figure 01 navigate the true world, particularly when working with individuals and doing enterprise capabilities.
This entrance view reveals the waist and hip joints. | Credit: Figure
The robotic is given high-level instructions about how briskly to maneuver, after which it has to consider duties like stability, the place to place its toes, and the best way to transfer its arms in order that it will probably stroll in a manner that isn’t affected by outdoors disturbances or modifications in floor peak.
This shut up reveals element of Figure 01’s waist and hip joints. | Credit: Figure
The workforce has additionally been engaged on “whole body reasoning”, which encapsulates a pure arm swing, and the place torso and pelvis movement is achieved by regulating angular momentum moderately than prescribing particular trajectories.
Figure 01 has a “race helmet” impressed head which incorporates an LCD display to speak with human customers. | Credit: Figure
Separately, the Figure workforce has been creating manipulation with the arms, arms, and fingers. This improvement continues independently of the strolling/gait groups’ work to get the robotic shifting and navigating its world.
The firm has constructed a demo warehouse in its Sunnyvale headquarters, a sign of the more than likely early market alternative for Figure 01 when it’s launched in 2024.