By Mohammad Faisal
Hyderabad: The instinct to procreate has deep evolutionary drivers. As a species that has developed sophisticated tool-making skills, we have also extended this “instinct to procreate” to the tools we make. The discovery of quantum physics gave birth to the field of electronics and computers, resulting in unprecedented breakthroughs that later created the area of robotics.Science fiction and robots go hand-in-hand, as does our fascination with humanoid machinery. From the T-800 Model 101 in The Terminator franchise to Baymax in Big Hero 6, intelligent robots have captured our imaginations with diverse portrayals — ranging from ruthless enforcers to compassionate caretakers. These fictional robots not only entertain us but also reflect our hopes, fears, and ethical dilemmas about the future of technology.
A humanoid robot can loosely be defined as a machine resembling a human being, with the capabilities to perform certain human-like movements and functions in an automated manner. The world already has a wide variety of autonomous robots performing tasks independently without human intervention. The industry has been trying to create humanoid robots with automation capabilities designed to handle mundane tasks while keeping humans out of harm's way. The market is also heating up further as artificial intelligence has evolved to simplify automation across the spectrum.
Boston Dynamics recently introduced the updated Atlas robot, ditching the complex and bulky hydraulic actuators with exposed cables and hoses in favour of an all-electric system, allowing it to become more compact, efficient, and free from the constraints and maintenance issues associated with hydraulic systems.
Following the release of a 21-second clip in August 2024 demonstrating all-electric Atlas' ability to do pushups, the company last month showcased the "shape-shifting" humanoid robot's autonomous navigation and handling capabilities with its swivelling joints and unique range of motions as it turns its head 360 degrees and walks backwards with its hip joint rotated 180 degrees.
Boston Dynamics plans to showcase in the coming months and years ahead "what the world’s most dynamic humanoid robot can really do-- in the lab, in the factory, and in our lives". We are also seeing ambitious attempts at making completely autonomous humanoid robots from companies like Tesla and BMW as well.
Reliance-backed Addverb also shared its vision of making an AI-powered humanoid robot capable of processing vast volumes of multi-modal data from vision, audio, and touch inputs to perform intricate tasks, such as making real-time decisions and adapting to diverse workflows across industries like warehouses and healthcare. Notably, the company currently offers end-to-end robots for warehouses and industrial automation, featuring a portfolio of Autonomous Mobile Robots, Sorting Robots, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems, and more.
While the ongoing attempts at making a completely autonomous humanoid robot appear new, the history of autonomous machinery goes as far back as ancient times.
History of autonomous robots
While autonomous robots and machines are considered to be modern tools, such devices, though not as advanced, have been around for a long time. However, there have been different opinions about what classifies as the earliest example of such machinery.
If we broaden the scope of what qualifies as an autonomous robot, handy gadgets invented in ancient times as automated helpers may also find a place in the list, starting with something like Water Clocks that existed in the Middle East and Asia as early as 4000 BC. Such clocks were among the earliest automation tools as they measured time through liquid transfer from container to container with time-calibrated markings.
Through a series of more automated machines like the Antikythera Mechanism from 150 BC that used to predict the movement of celestial bodies, the Peacock Fountain from 1100s AD in modern-day Turkey that used water to power sequences of actions for washing, and the Gutenberg Press in 1454 that revolutionised the dissemination of information by making book copying less labour-intensive, humanity has continually pushed the boundaries of innovation and technology. These advancements have laid the foundations for modern developments in automation.
History is filled with many inventions that automate specific tasks for humanity's sake. However, such tools might seem too simple by today's standards, where we don't even pause to give two thoughts to the automation mechanisms present in public bathrooms in the form of automatic soap dispensers, water faucets, and hand dryers.
"The history of autonomous robots dates back to the 18th century, starting with early mechanical inventions like Jacques de Vaucanson’s mechanical duck,” Rajeev Tiwari and Anurag Gupta, co-founders of STEMROBO, an AI coding and robotics lab setup company in India, said in a conversation with ETV Bharat. “While simple, these machines showcased the potential for autonomy and inspired generations of engineers and inventors,"
Notably, this digesting duck was unveiled in 1764 France and appeared to have the ability to eat kernels of grain and to metabolise and defecate them. Meanwhile, the industry at large considers the origin of autonomous robots to the 1940s and 1950s, further developed in the early 2000s with a sharp upward trajectory.
British neurophysiologist W Grey Walter is often credited as the one who started it all in the 1940s with the development of Elmer and Elsie, two Tortoise-shaped robots that exhibited basic autonomous actions, using sensors for navigation and responding to stimuli.
In the 1950s, George Devol continued this progression with his creation, Unimate, earning him the title "Grandfather of Robotics." He is also credited with inventing the first industrial robot.
Talking to ETV Bharat, Tiwari and Gupta highlighted that the 20th century's blend of electronics and programming introduced early autonomous robots like Shakey in the 1960s, setting the stage for today's advanced robotics that operate in real-world environments.
By the 1960s, early examples of robots began commercial use on assembly lines, primarily performing heavy lifting tasks. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, increased demand for automation led to the development of smaller, electric industrial robots with advanced controls and motors, ideal for precise tasks. By the late 1970s, robots expanded to perform tasks in hazardous environments.