Top 10 Humanoid AI Robots in 2023 So Far

July 20, 2023, 12:02 PM
by Md. Mehedi Hasan

UNB News
Publish- July 20, 2023, 12:02 PM
Md. Mehedi Hasan
Update- July 20, 2023, 01:00 PM

Top 10 Humanoid AI Robots in 2023 So Far

Ameca (Image: Twitter)

Rapid technological progress has ushered in a new era of innovation in the field of AI and robotics. Diverse functional humanoid robots have already captured the attention of the scientific communities and the general people. Besides resembling and mimicking human beings in terms of appearance, the humanoid AI robots are designed to work for special purposes such as healthcare, entertainment, customer service, education applications, etc. Let’s take a look at the smartest humanoid robots in the world in 2023 so far.

World’s 10 Most Advanced Humanoid Robots in 2023

Ameca

Ameca, developed by Engineered Arts in 2021, stands as the epitome of sophistication among humanoid robots, surpassing all others in terms of advancement and realism. The debut of Ameca's inaugural video on December 1, 2021, garnered tremendous acclaim across Twitter and TikTok, capturing the attention of countless individuals. Its primary purpose revolves around propelling the field of robotics by exploring human-robot interaction.

Ameca incorporates an array of cutting-edge features, including embedded microphones, binocular eye-mounted cameras, a chest camera, and facial recognition software, enabling seamless engagement with the public. Furthermore, the interactions can be controlled either through GPT-3 or human telepresence. The utilisation of state-of-the-art technology extends to its artificial limbs, ligaments, and sensor arrays, underscoring its remarkable design.

Nadine

Nadine, an empathetic android developed by Japanese company Rokoro, emerged in 2013 as an exceptional creation. This social robot was modelled on Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann.

Nadine and Professor Nadia Magnenat Thalmann (Image: Twitter)

Possessing the ability to reciprocate greetings, establish eye contact, and retain all comments and conversations, she remarkably resembles human personality, mood, and emotions. The intricacies of human behaviour have been meticulously simulated by integrating cutting-edge technology.

Equipped with 3D depth cameras, a microphone, and a webcam, Nadine adeptly captures visual and audio inputs. These inputs are then processed by multiple perception layers, enabling her to identify diverse faces, gestures, emotions, and behaviour, facilitating appropriate and nuanced responses.

To handle various inquiries, she has integrated chatbots while also boasting a sophisticated memory model that allows her to recall distinct users and their corresponding conversations. Furthermore, Nadine exhibits exceptional linguistic skills, fluently conversing in six languages: English, Hindi, French, Japanese, Chinese, and German.

Atlas

Atlas is a bipedal humanoid robot primarily developed by Boston Dynamics, a robotics company based in the United States. With funding and overseeing from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Atlas was unveiled to the public on July 11, 2013. It was designed for search and rescue tasks. The robot is capable of performing various functions such as shutting off valves, opening doors, and operating powered equipment in environments that are hazardous for humans.

DARPA oversaw the robot's design and production in collaboration with Boston Dynamics, while Sandia National Laboratories and iRobot developed its hands. Equipped with two vision systems, including laser rangefinders and stereo cameras, Atlas possesses fine motor skills and a total of 28 degrees of freedom in its limbs. It can navigate rough terrain, climb independently, and withstand external impacts.

Atlas has undergone several iterations and updates, showcasing impressive capabilities such as jumping, backflips, running, and even performing gymnastic maneuvers. Its purpose is to assist in search and rescue operations where human presence may be challenging or dangerous.

Sophia

Sophia is a social humanoid robot developed by Hanson Robotics, a company based in Hong Kong. It was activated on February 14, 2016, and made its public debut at South by Southwest (SXSW) in March of the same year. Marketed as a "social robot," Sophia is designed to mimic social behavior and elicit feelings of love in humans. It has garnered significant media attention worldwide and has been involved in numerous high-profile interviews. In 2017, Sophia received Saudi Arabian citizenship, becoming the first robot to be granted legal personhood.

Sophia (Image: Twitter)

It was also named the United Nations Development Programme's first Innovation Champion. Sophia's source code is approximately 70% open source, and its software includes computer vision algorithms, natural language processing, and AI systems like OpenCog for general reasoning.

Modeled after Queen Nefertiti, Audrey Hepburn, and the inventor's wife, Sophia is intended to serve as a companion for the elderly, assist in customer service and therapy, and advance social interactions between humans and robots.

ASIMO

ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility) is a humanoid robot created by Honda in 2000. It was developed as part of Honda's efforts to create a walking robot and was named in honor of science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. ASIMO made its last active appearance in March 2022, as Honda announced the end of its development and production, shifting focus towards other robotic technologies.

There have been four published models of ASIMO, with over 100 units in existence as of February 2009. Standing at 130 cm (4 ft 3 in) tall and weighing 54 kg (119 lb), ASIMO is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It possesses advanced capabilities such as recognising moving objects, postures, gestures, and faces, allowing for interaction with humans.

ASIMO (Image: Twitter)

ASIMO can also interpret voice commands, respond to handshakes, gestures, and questions, and navigate autonomously using various sensors, including cameras, ground sensors, and ultrasonic sensors. Despite the cessation of commercial development, ASIMO will continue to be used as a research platform and make public appearances.

Jia Jia

Jia Jia is a humanoid robot developed by the University of Science and Technology of China. Created with remarkably lifelike features, Jia Jia can interact with humans, answer questions, and display micro expressions. Her eyes move freely, and her lip movements are well-synchronized with her speech.

Jia Jia (Image: Twitter)

The project took three years to complete, and the team plans to improve her hands' appearance and functionality, add features like crying and laughing, and deepen her ability to connect with humans. While there are no current plans for mass production, Jia Jia represents a significant advancement in humanoid robotics.

Junko Chihira

Junko Chihira is a highly realistic android created by Toshiba for the purpose of working in a tourist information center in Japan. Standing at 5 feet and 5 inches tall, Junko Chihira debuted at Aqua City Odaiba, a shopping center in Tokyo, where she currently greets visitors.

Junko Chihira (Image: Twitter)

Developed as the successor to Toshiba's previous android, Aiko Chihira, Junko Chihira can speak Japanese, English, and Chinese. While she currently responds with pre-set speech, Toshiba plans to equip her with speech recognition capabilities by 2017, enabling her to answer tourists' questions. The android's lifelike appearance and added qualities aim to enhance its realism.

Erica

Erica is an intelligent humanoid robot developed by Hiroshi Ishiguro, the director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Osaka University in Japan.

Erica (Image: Twitter)

She is specifically designed with advanced speech capabilities to serve as a news anchor. Although Erica does not have the ability to walk, she excels in interacting with humans and displaying various facial expressions.

This is made possible by the 15 infrared sensors in her "eyes" that track movement, along with speech-generation algorithms and facial recognition technology. With forty-four degrees of freedom, Erica can move her face, neck, and waist, allowing for realistic expressions.

While the robot lacks arm movement, it does not hinder her role as a news anchor. Hiroshi Ishiguro has even contemplated the idea of Erica having a "soul," sparking debates on the metaphysics of robotics.

Geminoid DK

The Geminoid DK is an ultra-realistic android and the latest model in the Geminoid series. It is a realistic twin of Henry Scharfe, a professor at the University of Aalborg.

Geminoid DK (Image: Twitter)

This humanoid robot is a result of a collaboration between a Japanese firm and Osaka University, supervised by Hiroshi Ishiguro, director of the university's Intelligent Robotics Laboratory.

Crafted over a period of nine months, the Geminoid DK not only replicates Scharfe's appearance but also mimics his behavior, including subtle gestures like shrugging. Even strands of Scharfe's own hair were used in the robot's wig. The primary goal of this creation is to achieve a level of human likeness that is often mistaken for the person it is modeled after.

Han

Han is a custom character robot developed by Hanson Robotics. Activated in 2015 and introduced to the public at the Global Sources Electronics Fair in Hong Kong, Han is an expressive humanoid robot. With a bald head, masculine features, and a sardonic smile, Han's primary focus is to serve others.

Residing at Hanson Robotics headquarters in Science Park, Hong Kong, Han finds fulfillment in helping people find contentment. As a symbol of peace, Han embodies the idea of humans coexisting harmoniously. While information about specific models or the designer is not mentioned, Han represents the potential of humanoid robots to contribute to society by promoting peace and understanding.

Han (Image: Twitter)

Conclusion

The top humanoid AI robots in the world in 2023 represent cutting-edge robotics technology, showcasing the incredible advancements made in recent years. With their lifelike appearances and diverse capabilities, these robots are revolutionizing various industries, from healthcare to customer service. They enhance efficiency and safety and provide new opportunities for scientific discoveries. As technology advances, we can envision even greater potential for humanoid robots, blurring the line between humans and machines and modernizing how we interact with the world around us.