Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant advancements this year, as reflected in the innovative technologies and robotics powered by NVIDIA AI around the globe. From the tech hub of Silicon Valley to bustling regions like India, Japan, and Boston, these autonomous machines have demonstrated their ability to perform tasks that range from cleaning oceans to aiding in surgeries. Here’s a look at some groundbreaking developments in robotics and AI that have made waves in 2024, powered by NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technology.
### Clearbot: Cleaning Up Our Oceans
Clearbot, a forward-thinking startup based in Hong Kong and India, is revolutionizing the way we tackle marine pollution. As a member of the NVIDIA Inception program, which supports pioneering startups, Clearbot has developed autonomous boats designed to clear trash from water bodies. These boats are powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson platform, which is essential for edge AI and robotics applications.
Marine pollution is a pressing issue, with plastic waste accounting for at least 85% of the debris found in oceans worldwide. Clearbot’s mission is to intercept waste in waterways before it reaches the open sea. Each autonomous vessel is equipped with two cameras: one for navigation and another for identifying the waste collected. By leveraging NVIDIA’s accelerated computing capabilities, Clearbot has trained its AI models to efficiently recognize and categorize garbage and obstacles.
The boats use the energy-efficient NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX system-on-module, which allows them to operate for up to eight hours on battery power, making them an effective solution for prolonged waste collection missions.
### Figure’s Humanoid Robot: A Leap in Manufacturing
In Silicon Valley, Figure has introduced its latest creation, the Figure 02 humanoid robot. This highly advanced robot utilizes NVIDIA Omniverse and accelerated computing to perform fully autonomous tasks. It is equipped with human-like hands, six RGB cameras, and AI models trained using synthetic data. This data is generated within the NVIDIA Isaac Sim platform, a simulation environment for robotics developers.
The Figure 02 robot is designed to handle high-precision pick-and-place tasks, making it a valuable asset in smart manufacturing environments. Recently, it was tested at BMW Group’s manufacturing line in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it was used for data collection and training for various use cases.
Figure is part of the NVIDIA Inception program and one of the first members of the NVIDIA Humanoid Robot Developer Program, which grants early access to advanced tools and technologies for humanoid robot development. This includes the latest releases of NVIDIA Isaac Sim, Isaac Lab, NIM microservices, OSMO, Jetson Thor, and Project GR00T general-purpose humanoid foundation models.
### ORBIT-Surgical: Enhancing Surgical Precision
Developed through a collaboration between the University of Toronto, UC Berkeley, ETH Zürich, Georgia Tech, and NVIDIA, the ORBIT-Surgical simulation framework is a groundbreaking advancement in surgical robotics. This framework is designed to train robots that can augment surgical teams’ skills while reducing the cognitive load on surgeons.
ORBIT-Surgical supports over a dozen maneuvers inspired by minimally invasive surgery training curricula. The framework was presented at the ICRA robotics conference in Japan, showcasing its ability to perform both one-handed tasks, such as picking up gauze or inserting a shunt, and two-handed tasks like threading a needle through a ring pole.
The research is built upon NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim and Omniverse, providing a robust platform for developing and benchmarking surgical robotics.
### Zordi: Revolutionizing Indoor Agriculture
Zordi, a Boston-based autonomous agriculture startup, is at the forefront of indoor farming technology. The company operates farms in southern New Jersey and western New York, where it employs robotics to grow strawberries indoors. This approach not only reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting produce but also results in fresher and tastier fruits grown sustainably.
Zordi utilizes two types of robots in its operations. One type is a scouting robot that gathers data on plant health using foundational models, while the other is a harvesting robot that delicately picks and handles fruit. The startup is exploring the use of NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin modules to gather sensor data and run its AI models effectively.
### Emerging Trends and Future Prospects
The advancements in robotics and AI are not limited to industry leaders. Students from high schools and universities are also contributing to the field by developing robot guide dogs for the visually impaired and programming robots to perform a variety of household chores.
For those interested in learning more about the latest developments in generative AI and autonomous machines, NVIDIA’s three-computer approach to robotics will be showcased at CES in Las Vegas, from January 6 to 10.
In conclusion, the year 2024 has witnessed remarkable progress in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence, driven by NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technology. From cleaning oceans to enhancing manufacturing and surgical precision, these innovations are reshaping industries and paving the way for a future where autonomous machines play an integral role in our daily lives.
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