in 2020, robotics and their artificial intelligence truly became humans best friends and even saviors in many instances. the bots proved to be more than just cool gadgets; they evolved to step in as doctors, law-enforcement and builders as the world was and still is battling to understand, control and live with COVID-19. our TOP 10 robotic and artificial intelligence stories of 2020 highlight these moments of positivity. they showcase our smart technologies in function, from artistic, musical and conceptual through to the down-right practical.
continuing ourTOP 10round-ups of 2020, we look back at 10 virtual and augmented reality stories that attracted our and, most importantly, designboom readers attention over the past 12 months.
images via bas uterwijk
based in amsterdam, bas uterwijk is a freelance photographer that uses GAN (generative adversarial network) to generate hyper-realistic portraits of famous historical figures.trained with thousands of photographs, these deep learning networks are able to generate photographs that look at least superficially genuine to the human eye. from michelangelos david and napoleon to the statue of liberty, uterwijk usesartificial intelligenceto create photography-type images that might give us an idea of how these people really looked like.
image courtesy of UVD robots
out TOP 10 robotic and artificial intelligence stories of 2020 needed to include our battle against coronavirus. as the world was faced with the initial challenge of COVID-19 as the pandemic first started robots began to be designed to help the fight by disinfecting hospital rooms with concentrated UV light.developed by danish companyUVD robots,the autonomous machines are used as part of regular cleaning cycles and are extremely helpful at preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases, viral infections, bacteria and other types of harmful organic microorganisms in the environment by breaking down their DNA-structure.
image courtesy of BBT
the business breakthrough university in tokyo, who werent allowed to have a traditional graduation ceremony due to coronavirus, used remote controlled robots to hold a virtual graduation. also referred to as avatar robots, students called into the ceremony using video-conferencing tool zoom to display their faces on the mobile devices. the newme telepresence robots were designed byANA group and work as remotely controlled, customizable avatars. the robots, which were dressed in typical graduation caps and gowns, used tablets in place of the face allowing the students to see one another.
screenshot the strait times
as a bot that featured many times throughout 2020, the boston dynamics spot dog was a must-feature in our TOP 10 robotic and artificial intelligence stories of 2020. the brand explored its many different uses: first we reported how the dog bot is protecting frontline healthcare workers by helping doctors treat infected patients by minimizing their exposure; then, the strait timespublished a video of how singapore is deploying them at the bishan-ang mo kio park to remind visitors of safesocial distancingmeasures.
image aaron hargreaves / foster + partners
architecture firmfoster + partners has also been using spot boston dynamics agile robot dog as a tool to capture and monitor construction progression on-site.the two companies have been working together to explore the potential of a robot in a dynamic environment such as a construction site, capturing changes on a regular basis, and being able to easily compare the as-designed models against the as-built reality.
image bylucianr/ BIG
terminus group, a chinese technology firm,unveiled a design by bjarke ingels groupfor its future headquarters in chongqing,china.named AI CITY, the development will be dedicated to terminus aspirations in the fields ofartificial intelligenceof things (AIoT),robotics, networking, and big data. the first phase of the hi-tech campus, dubbed cloud valley, takes inspiration from the regions undulating landscape.
edge innovations a san francisco-based design, development, and production studio has delivered some of the worlds most innovative, technical and artistic creations to visionaries including james cameron andfrank gehry.the team, led by formerwalt disney imagineeringcreatives, has been working on a hyper-realroboticdolphin intended on reimagining the entertainment, educational, and business potential of the marine animal industry. these real-time animatronics (or mechatronic puppets) bring together live puppeteering, programmed behavior, andartificial intelligenceto create a totally unique experience.
image courtesy of microsoft
bjrk collaborated with microsoft to create AI-generated music based on on the changing weather patterns and position of the sun. called krsafn, which means choir archive in icelandic, the composition will be played continuously in the lobby of sister city, a hotel in new yorks lower east side that opened in the spring of 2019.krsafn uses sounds from bjrks musical archives, which she has compiled over the last 17 years, to create new arrangements.
images courtesy of neofect
koreon start-up neofect developed a roboticglove which can help patients suffering from paralysis for grabbing and picking up the product prototype, named neomano, is a smart glove designed to help those rehabilitating after a stroke and spinal cord injuries (SCI).SCI can cause weakness or complete loss of muscle function and loss of sensation in the body below the level of injury, among others.
image courtesy ofpixabay
our TOP 10 robotic and artificial intelligence stories of 2020 would not be complete without mention of the black lives matter movement. a giant gundamrobot showed its first signs of life in footage shared on social media. modeled after a character from mobile suit gundam, a 1979 televised anime series, the 18-meter-tall (59 ft) robot has been under construction in the japanese city of yokohama for years. filmed at the gundam factory yokohama, the speeded-up video shows the automaton taking a knee before demonstrating its ability to move its arms, hands, and fingers.
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TOP 10 robotic and artificial intelligence stories of 2020 - Designboom
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- KUKA Robotics | KUKA AG - December 14th, 2016 [December 14th, 2016]
- Robotics - The Great Courses - December 22nd, 2016 [December 22nd, 2016]
- Robotics - reddit - January 11th, 2017 [January 11th, 2017]
- Chatham Robotics Goes Undefeated and Moves On to State Championship - TAPinto.net - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Meridian robotics team gears up for Idaho FRC Regional - KBOI-TV - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Local robotics students headed to World Championship tournament - KOLO - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Report: Nearshoring favors robotics, will require heavy capital investment - Supply Chain Dive - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Belding hosts largest robotics competition in history of event - Greenville Daily News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- First Tech Challenge: High schools battle in robotics competition - The Journal News | LoHud.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Robotics Team Takes Home Trophy at Lego Competition - Patch.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- OHS robotics club dazzles McKinley students - Southernminn.com - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Toyota Industries Acquires Warehouse Robotics Developer - Wall Street Journal - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- South High wins Volvo's robotics tournament - Herald-Mail Media - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Belding hosts robotics competition - Sentinel-Standard - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- CMS robotics program soars - SW News Media - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Update On The Megatrend of Robotics - CTOvision (blog) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 33C3: Edible Soft Robotics - Hackaday - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Shopping robots on the march in Ocado - BBC News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Keller students Starstruck on robotics - Fort Worth Star Telegram - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Our obsession with robots keeps getting creepier - New York Post - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Rethink Robotics makes its workplace bots easier to train and redeploy - TechCrunch - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Donation will cover costs for Sequim robotic competition - Peninsula Daily News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Derby Middle School robotics club competes at high school competition - The Derby Informer - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Raspberry Pi-powered arm: This kit aims to make robotics simple enough for kids - TechRepublic - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- WPI Robotics Team Has a Mission with Mars | News | WPI - WPI News - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Rehab robotics field promises to return control, mobility to aging population - ScienceBlog.com (blog) - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Rethink's Robots Get Massive Software Upgrade, Rodney Brooks So Excited - IEEE Spectrum - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Robotics: A robot that flies like a bat : Nature : Nature Research - Nature.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Robotics teams at CCS stay busy at tournaments - Imperial Republican - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Rethink Robotics rethinks its software | ZDNet - ZDNet - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Hartland robotics teams take on the FIRST Tech challenge at state competition - LC Sussex Sun - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Home-schooled students studying robotics - Valencia County News Bulletin - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Agility Robotics Introduces Cassie, a Dynamic and Talented Robot Delivery Ostrich - IEEE Spectrum - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Memphis robotics team headed to Super-Regionals - New Baltimore Voice Newspapers - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Patriot Robotics Alliance upsets Brentwood Academy Alliances - Clarksville Now - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Raptor legs & human hips: Giant leap for walking robots - RT - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- How drones and robotics may shape the future of conflict under President Trump - PRI - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Robotics teams wins at state meet - The Citizen.com - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Ford Bets $1B on Startup Founded by Waymo, Uber Vets - ABC News - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- South Beach robotics squad advances to super regionals - The Daily World - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Personal robotics the next technological revolution: Dr Vivian Balakrishnan - Channel NewsAsia - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- This bipedal robot could deliver your packages one day - The Verge - The Verge - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Robotics event offers lesson in teamwork - Lewiston Morning Tribune (subscription) - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Essex County Freeholders Honor Livingston Robotics Club Teams - TAPinto.net - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- College Town: WPI Robotics team aims for $1M NASA prize - Worcester Telegram - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Alice Shaw robotics team building invention to save wolves | Local ... - Lompoc Record - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Ford invests $1B in robotics startup in driverless car quest - CBS News - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Freshman Caldwell team takes first place in Regional Robotics Tournament - Idaho Press-Tribune - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- What went seriously wrong with Lily Robotics - VentureBeat - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Face off: Marion students compete in robotics competition - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration) - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Robotics Competition slated for Monday - San Angelo Standard Times - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Cornerstone Prep robotics team brings home trophy in first year - MDJOnline.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Center Grove robotics team headed to state competition - Daily Journal - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Hundreds piled into a Fort Mill gym. They cheered. They competed. They drove robots. - The Herald - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- My Turn: Arts education paved the way for girls' robotics win - AZCentral.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Young Alberta engineers face off in robotics showdown - CBC.ca - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Cougar robotics team advances to Super-Regionals - Times Bulletin - Times Bulletin - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- South Carroll Robotics teams compete at Maryland State Robotics Competition - Carroll County Times - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Cave Spring High School's Robotics Club wins in the First Tech ... - Roanoke Times - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- FIRST Robotics Competition - Wikipedia - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Designing robots to look more like ostriches can solve a key problem for our future biped overlords - Quartz - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- More than 1000 high school students expected to Battlefield HS robotics tournament - PotomacLocal.com - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Event to look at Scotland's pivotal role in robotics - The Scotsman - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Kennett Coders to compete in NH State Robotics Championships on Saturday - Conway Daily Sun - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Are there enough robots? - Robotics Tomorrow (press release) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois robotics team makes state tournament - Alton Telegraph - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Intuition Robotics raised $6 million for its ElliQ elder care assistant robot - TechCrunch - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Richmond robotics team gears up for districts - New Baltimore Voice Newspapers - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Microsoft lets you crash drones and robots in its new real world simulator - The Verge - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Makeblock's Lego-like 'Neuron' teaches kids robotics and code - Engadget - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- West Ridge robotics team maneuvers into national championship - Austin American-Statesman - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Immokalee High team set for robotics state championships Friday - Naples Daily News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- What has Robotics got in store for our future? - RTE.ie - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Uber Is Becoming a Robotics Company, CEO Says - Yahoo News - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 3Doodler's new kits help kids craft their own robots - Engadget - Engadget - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Magnetic Control Could Help Robots Navigate Inside Your Body - IEEE Spectrum - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Boston's new hub, MassRobotics, is like a WeWork for robotics startups - TechCrunch - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 3Doodler announces a robotics kit, Star Trek and Powerpuff Girls ... - TechCrunch - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Chart: Are Robots Replacing High-Cost Workers? - Seeking Alpha - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]