Can this $70,000 robot transform AI research?

The collaboration between Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics has led to the creation of the Reachy 2 humanoid robot, a cutting-edge innovation designed to be a friendly and approachable lab partner for the AI era. This state-of-the-art robot is already making waves in prestigious labs like Cornell and Carnegie Mellon, thanks to its innovative features and open-source nature.

One of the key features that sets Reachy 2 apart is its Orbita joint system, which gives its neck and wrists smooth, multi-directional movement, making it remarkably expressive. The humanoid robot also boasts human-inspired arms, a mobile base with omni wheels and lidar for seamless navigation, and VR teleoperation capability that allows users to see through the robot’s eyes.

In terms of technical specifications, Reachy 2 stands between 4.46 and 5.45 feet tall and weighs 110 pounds. It features bio-inspired arms with 7 degrees of freedom, a parallel torque-controlled gripper, multiple cameras for depth perception, and a high-quality audio system. Its vision module includes dual RGB cameras and a Time-of-Flight module for depth measurement, while its immersive stereo perception is achieved through microphones in its antennas.

Controlling Reachy 2 is made easy with a Solidrun Bedrock v3000 unit, which handles AI processing on external hardware. The humanoid robot is priced at $70,000, reflecting its cutting-edge robotics and AI components, making it a valuable investment for researchers and educators looking to explore the boundaries of human-robot interaction.

The acquisition of Pollen Robotics by Hugging Face signifies a push towards making robotics more accessible to everyone. With a shared vision of putting AI and robotics in the hands of the masses, the collaboration between the two companies represents a step towards a future where AI and robotics are open, affordable, and private. This move solidifies Hugging Face’s commitment to open-source AI and sets the stage for exciting developments in the field of robotics.

Overall, the Reachy 2 humanoid robot is a groundbreaking innovation that showcases the potential of AI and robotics working together. With its expressive features, advanced technical specifications, and open-source nature, Reachy 2 is set to revolutionize the way we interact with robots. Keep an eye on Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics for more exciting developments in the world of robotics and AI.