Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please send us your events for inclusion.

Humanoids 2024: 22–24 November 2024, NANCY, FRANCE

Enjoy today’s videos!

Just when I thought quadrupeds couldn’t impress me anymore...

[ Unitree Robotics ]

Researchers at Meta FAIR are releasing several new research artifacts that advance robotics and support our goal of reaching advanced machine intelligence (AMI). These include Meta Sparsh, the first general-purpose encoder for vision-based tactile sensing that works across many tactile sensors and many tasks; Meta Digit 360, an artificial fingertip-based tactile sensor that delivers detailed touch data with human-level precision and touch-sensing; and Meta Digit Plexus, a standardized platform for robotic sensor connections and interactions that enables seamless data collection, control and analysis over a single cable.

[ Meta ]

The first bimanual Torso created at Clone includes an actuated elbow, cervical spine (neck), and anthropomorphic shoulders with the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, scapulothoracic and glenohumeral joints. The valve matrix fits compactly inside the ribcage. Bimanual manipulation training is in progress.

[ Clone Inc. ]

Equipped with a new behavior architecture, Nadia navigates and traverses many types of doors autonomously. Nadia also demonstrates robustness to failed grasps and door opening attempts by automatically retrying and continuing. We present the robot with pull and push doors, four types of opening mechanisms, and even spring-loaded door closers. A deep neural network and door plane estimator allow Nadia to identify and track the doors.

[ Paper preprint by authors from Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition ]

Thanks, Duncan!

In this study, we integrate the musculoskeletal humanoid Musashi with the wire-driven robot CubiX, capable of connecting to the environment, to form CubiXMusashi. This combination addresses the shortcomings of traditional musculoskeletal humanoids and enables movements beyond the capabilities of other humanoids. CubiXMusashi connects to the environment with wires and drives by winding them, successfully achieving movements such as pull-up, rising from a lying pose, and mid-air kicking, which are difficult for Musashi alone.

[ CubiXMusashi, JSK Robotics Laboratory, University of Tokyo ]

Thanks, Shintaro!

An old boardwalk seems like a nightmare for any robot with flat feet.

[ Agility Robotics ]

This paper presents a novel learning-based control framework that uses keyframing to incorporate high-level objectives in natural locomotion for legged robots. These high-level objectives are specified as a variable number of partial or complete pose targets that are spaced arbitrarily in time. Our proposed framework utilizes a multi-critic reinforcement learning algorithm to effectively handle the mixture of dense and sparse rewards. In the experiments, the multi-critic method significantly reduces the effort of hyperparameter tuning compared to the standard single-critic alternative. Moreover, the proposed transformer-based architecture enables robots to anticipate future goals, which results in quantitative improvements in their ability to reach their targets.

[ Disney Research paper ]

Human-like walking where that human is the stompiest human to ever human its way through Humanville.

[ Engineai ]

We present the first static-obstacle avoidance method for quadrotors using just an onboard, monocular event camera. Quadrotors are capable of fast and agile flight in cluttered environments when piloted manually, but vision-based autonomous flight in unknown environments is difficult in part due to the sensor limitations of traditional onboard cameras. Event cameras, however, promise nearly zero motion blur and high dynamic range, but produce a large volume of events under significant ego-motion and further lack a continuous-time sensor model in simulation, making direct sim-to-real transfer not possible.

[ Paper University of Pennsylvania and University of Zurich ]

Cross-embodiment imitation learning enables policies trained on specific embodiments to transfer across different robots, unlocking the potential for large-scale imitation learning that is both cost-effective and highly reusable. This paper presents LEGATO, a cross-embodiment imitation learning framework for visuomotor skill transfer across varied kinematic morphologies. We introduce a handheld gripper that unifies action and observation spaces, allowing tasks to be defined consistently across robots.

[ LEGATO ]

The 2024 Xi’an Marathon has kicked off! STAR1, the general-purpose humanoid robot from Robot Era, joins runners in this ancient yet modern city for an exciting start!

[ Robot Era ]

In robotics, there are valuable lessons for students and mentors alike. Watch how the CyberKnights, a FIRST robotics team champion sponsored by RTX, with the encouragement of their RTX mentor, faced challenges after a poor performance and scrapped its robot to build a new one in just nine days.

[ CyberKnights ]

In this special video, PAL Robotics takes you behind the scenes of our 20th-anniversary celebration, a memorable gathering with industry leaders and visionaries from across robotics and technology. From inspiring speeches to milestone highlights, the event was a testament to our journey and the incredible partnerships that have shaped our path.

[ PAL Robotics ]

Thanks, Rugilė!

Two astronauts relinquished their seats on a four-person spacecraft so that their colleagues could return to Earth from the ISS, where they’ve been stuck since June.

A ”once in a lifetime” comet is expected to light up the night sky as it passes by Earth.

A collaboration between a space company and a fashion company yields something elegant.

A SpaceX capsule carrying the crew parachuted before dawn into the Gulf of Mexico just off the Florida coast.

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M4 and M4 Pro get core count bumps; M4 Max relies on architectural improvements.

Both hit weeks after OpenAI released a ChatGPT app.

The 16GB RAM upgrade is one of many welcome, if incremental, improvements.

First Mac mini redesign in almost 15 years highlights how good the insides are.

Researchers show the average surface temperature on our planet has shifted between 51.8 to 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit

While other bears battled over fish in a prime spot, Otis would sit off to the side and wait for the fish to come to him. But so far this year, he hasn’t been spotted in Katmai National Park and Preserve

An ecologist’s long walks and detailed observations allowed him to chronicle the shifts in an iconic habitat and grow a once-overlooked branch of science

The storm decimated a region rich with dozens of species already struggling with habitat loss and disease

Shop now to sculpt your midsection comfortably with soft, breathable fabric.

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Shop these deep discounts of up to 50% off of loads of styles of Rebecca Minkoff handbags at Amazon's Big Summer Sale.

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Shop discounts of up to 60% off of stylish Kate Spade handbags, jewelry, watches and accessories from Amazon's Big Summer Sale.

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The Puerto Rican singer covers the latest issue of 'Out' magazine.

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Read on for everything you should know about the history-making politician.

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The actor is getting some support from his ex-wife, Lindsay Hartley, and daughter, Bella.

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Shop stylish diaper bags that busy moms won't mind carrying.

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Soderlund died from complications due to Alzheimer's disease.

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We spoke to the Conservative MP and former army officer Tom Tugendhat, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's position is now untenable, according to the Bishop of Newcastle who joined the growing calls for Justin Welby to resign.

The business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has called for a change of culture at the Post Office, as he gave evidence to the inquiry into the Horizon scandal.

The former soldier Daniel Khalife has changed his plea to guilty and admitted escaping from Wandsworth prison.

Justin Welby's resignation as the Archbishop of Canterbury came after days of mounting pressure following a damning report into the cover-up of horrific abuse.

We spoke to energy secretary Ed Miliband and began by asking him what he thought of Donald Trump saying climate change is a hoax.

Telegram has established itself as a unique messaging platform with a strong emphasis on privacy, encryption, and an intuitive API. What sets it apart is its ability to support large group chats, with a capacity of up to 200,000 participants, which is far greater than what competitors like WhatsApp and Signal offer. This feature makes […]

The post A Comprehensive Guide on How to Find Telegram Groups to Promote Your Brand appeared first on Chart Attack.

In the bustling world of the restaurant industry, standing out is more challenging than ever. With diners increasingly turning to the internet to discover their next meal, having a strong online presence is crucial. This guide will show you practical tips and techniques to maximise your restaurant’s online visibility and enhance your SEO efforts. By […]

The post Maximising Online Visibility and SEO for Restaurants: Tips and Techniques appeared first on Chart Attack.

Dry ice is becoming an essential resource for various industries in Lakeland, Florida. Made from carbon dioxide in its solid form, dry ice sublimates directly into gas without leaving any liquid residue. This characteristic makes it a highly effective cooling solution, ideal for transporting perishable goods, supporting medical needs, and industrial cleaning. With the right […]

The post Essential Guide to Choosing the Best Lakeland Dry Ice Supplier for Your Business Needs appeared first on Chart Attack.

Searching for the ideal platform to handle your used car auction needs? You’ve come to the right place. This guide is specifically designed for dealers and brokers who want to make the most out of their efforts in the used car market. Understanding the Market Dynamics of Used Car Auctions The first step in choosing […]

The post Maximize Your Profits With the Right Used Car Auction Platform ─ A Guide for Dealers and Brokers appeared first on Chart Attack.

If you’ve ever tried to make a portrait that looks like the person you’re sketching, you know it’s no walk in the park. Maybe you’ve got the eyes perfectly, but then the mouth looks… well, let’s say “abstract.” So, how do the pros do it? What tools, materials, and techniques help bring out that jaw-dropping […]

The post Draw Portraits Like a Pro – Essential Tools and Materials for Photo-Realistic Results appeared first on Chart Attack.

Dropbox also laid off 500 last year but still had "excess layers of management."

The botnet is being skillfully used to launch "highly evasive" password-spraying attacks.

Time-hopping film Here used AI trained on every Tom Hanks movie to make him appear young again.

Speculator swapped pricey domain for OpenAI shares instead of taking cash payment.

FrontierMath's difficult questions remain unpublished so that AI companies can't train against it.

Wildfires have been raging in New York and New Jersey. People in some areas have been asked to prepare for possible evacuations.

Congress reconvenes this week with a top priority: electing the leaders of each chamber. Here's a look at the contenders. And, top priorities for Trump's Justice Department.

The new Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom by Jan. 1 was temporarily blocked Tuesday. The judge said the law is "unconstitutional on its face."

Donald Trump and the Republicans have a mandate for new economic policy.

The post Breitbart Business Digest: The Trump Economic Mandate appeared first on Breitbart.

Republican Senators huddled for over two hours Tuesday night for a family meeting over who will take the reins from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

The post Republican Senators Hold Leader Candidate Forum Hours Before Consequential Vote appeared first on Breitbart.