Sanctuary AI, a Canadian company not often spotlighted like its peers Boston Dynamics and Agility, has recently launched the seventh generation of its Phoenix robot series. The new model was revealed last Thursday and is becoming notable for its advancements, particularly from the waist up.
This latest iteration, which follows a version that introduced legs, primarily showcases the torso in new demonstration videos. Sanctuary AI emphasizes the robot's human-like ability to sort products with remarkable speed, highlighting its quick learning capabilities for new tasks.
The robot world has largely focused on the visual and mechanical aspects, such as movement and navigation, as seen in recent displays by companies like Boston Dynamics. However, the intelligence of these robots, especially in learning and adapting to new tasks, is becoming increasingly significant.
Although the idea of "general intelligence" in robots remains a future goal—likely a decade away—Sanctuary's new Phoenix robot is making strides in this direction. The robot can reportedly automate new tasks within less than 24 hours, showcasing a significant advancement in robotic learning efficiency.
Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO of Sanctuary AI, expressed his excitement about the new model: “With generation seven, we have a system that closely mimics human behavior more than any other robot available. It’s not only a pivotal development in AI robotics but also a significant step towards achieving artificial general intelligence. We’re excited to lead this endeavor.”
The robot's capabilities vary depending on the task, with the demonstrations focusing on relatively simple activities such as sorting objects by color in a controlled setting. Despite this, Sanctuary has already made significant inroads with earlier versions of its robots, including a recent partnership with Magna auto manufacturing.
Building on the improvements from its predecessors, the seventh-generation Phoenix robot features enhanced operational time, a broader range of motion, reduced weight, and a cost-effective design, making it a noteworthy addition to the field of humanoid robotics.