this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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I don’t understand these companies’ obsession with humanoid robots. A robot doesn’t have to humanoid to be a useful household helper. It doesn’t even have to be humanoid for people to form a friendly bond with it (something I think would be a good quality in a “household helper”) just look at Star Wars droids
See also: Cogsworth
Some of this is also about less complicated ways to use patents that can also be applied to things like prosthetic limbs.
Also, it provides a control case with how well-studied human anatomy is. In terms of basic mechanical motion, there's a clear baseline goal.
I remember seeing early versions of the synthetic muscle fibers years ago, but as far as ways to practically apply them and test, and refine them as control technology improves with machine learning. 10-15 years ago, this wasn't really possible.
A humanoid robot can operate in the existing world. It can climb stairs and open a door, for example. A robot on wheels without arms can't do that.
Wouldn't a quadruped be easier? You can stick arms onto a robotic "dog".
You could, but it still has to interact with things at and above human height, like stuff on countertops and high shelves.
Crabs make even more sense. 6 legs makes climbing stairs even easier. 2 big arms to hold thing and manipulate doors, drawers etc.
Nature keeps making crabs, we should just cut to the chase.
if you want it to interact with a wide range of environments and objects that were designed for humans, then a humanoid robot may be the way to go.
It has to be humanoid to live among humans, using human architecture and technology.