NEO, a humanoid robot created by 1X, is leading the charge in this rapidly advancing world of robotics. It is poised to be deeply woven into the fabric of life at home. NEO is meant to assist with multiple household chores. Currently, it’s learning to perfect tasks such as watering the plants, retrieving beverages, and putting away plates and cups. As 1X prepares for the robot’s launch later this year, it faces both challenges and optimism regarding NEO’s capabilities.
NEO’s training sessions have revealed some obstacles. In tests earlier this month, the robot had difficulty grasping cupboard handles while trying to put dishes and mugs away. This limitation begs the question of how well it is going to do at performing basic tasks around the home. In the face of all that optimism and exuberance, 1X’s co-founder, Tony Zhao, is unfazed. He’s confident these problems will be sorted out well before NEO’s expected debut in late 2024.
To nab its performance challenges, 1X has created a custom robotic glove intended to improve NEO’s grip and dexterity. This latest innovation is to further enhance NEO’s ability to safely and effectively navigate different obstacles around the home environment.
In early tests, NEO demonstrated what it could do by carrying out a variety of daily chores around the house. For example, it indeed folded T-shirts in about a minute and a half and brewed coffee with moderate success. Yet even during its first attempt at picking up a wine glass, the robot’s miscalculation resulted in disaster as it shattered the glass. This event reinforced just how important continued training and iteration is for the robot. It is continually learning from real-world data collection to produce better results.
1X has piloted a remote trainer model for NEO that allows us to train statewide. Real-time human operators wearing VR headsets and sensor technology participate by directly manipulating the robot while it performs its various tasks. This approach not only makes for more actionable real-time feedback, but makes NEO’s own learning process stronger. As Zhao notes, “NEO is getting faster at performing tasks all the time,” indicating that improvements will continue as more data is collected and analyzed.
The capital support behind 1X is just the latest sign of enthusiasm pouring into the world of humanoid robots. Nvidia and other major technology companies are supporting the company’s progress. This backing reflects a burgeoning trend in both Silicon Valley and China to design sophisticated robotics for personal commonplace usage.
NEO’s deployment follows 1X’s goal to enter the domestic robotics market successfully and thoughtfully from their strategic playbook. As one of the field’s leading experts, Bipasha Sen, puts it, “Societal Aspirations Will Change as Technology Emerges.” “Today people have two aspirations – a car and a house. In the future they’ll have three aspirations – a car and house and a robot,” she stated.
While NEO is still in development, its artificial intelligence is being enriched by real-world experience. This integration of machine learning techniques means that beyond the tube, NEO automatically learns from its performance over time to improve the way it works. This recent advancement makes NEO’s work stronger than ever. It further puts the company at the leading edge of the growing market for humanoid robots.
The work of embedding robots into daily life brings hurdles that go far beyond operating parameters. Bernt Børnich shared insights into this transition: “We have a lot of data so a lot of the stuff in my home can get automated but periodically someone kind of steps in and helps.” This view supports the argument that human control is needed alongside robots.
1X’s ambitious plans for NEO are shaping up to be a revolutionary moment in the robotics industry. Domestic robots such as NEO are gaining efficiency and smartness day by day. They provide a tantalizing foretaste of a future where robots help us manage our household tasks and become a natural part of our everyday lives.