Chinese humanoid robot stuns the world with huge leap forward

Chinese robotics* company EngineAI has officially entered the humanoid* robotics scene, releasing a video showing what it claimed was the world’s first humanoid robot front flip.

Fox News reported that robot backflips were becoming commonplace, but said a front flip was significantly more difficult than a backflip, as any gymnast could confirm.

WHY FRONT FLIPS ARE A BIG DEAL
The challenge for robots attempting a front flip is maintaining balance and control throughout the rotation.

Unlike humans, robots rely on precise sensor data and motor control* to execute complex movements.

During a front flip, the robot must rapidly shift its weight, adjust its centre of gravity and co-ordinate the movements of its limbs to ensure a smooth and controlled landing.

EngineAI overcome a significant challenge in robotics by programming the PM01 model to gather enough force to spin in the forward direction while calculating the correct angular velocity* and torque*.

ROBOTS DON’T FEEL FEAR
Of course, this was a robot. It had no fear, no hesitation and no sense of self-preservation. Its designers could put any range of powerful electric motors and joints into its anatomy*, and it had been coded and instructed to flip, so it flipped.

It was still an impressive feat. The field of robotics, particularly humanoid, general-purpose robots, is advancing at an incredible rate. Ten years ago, this kind of stuff simply did not exist.

You could even buy your very own open-source* PM01 robot for around $A21,700, according to EngineAI’s website.

Its specs aren’t bad, with five degrees of freedom in each arm and six per leg, totalling 23 degrees of freedom in body movement. The little guy is only about 135cm tall and weighs 40kg – about the same height and weight as an 11-year-old child.

EngineAI’s general-purpose humanoid robot nailed a front flip and walked off like a junior champion, with one of the most human-like gaits* seen to date, which was also quite impressive.

KEY FEATURES
The EngineAI PM01 is a new-generation open-source humanoid robot, designed with elegant aesthetics* and dynamic mechanical performance.

The PM01 features natural gait walking, powered by end-to-end neural network technology for authentic human-like movement. It has an interactive core display, which delivers a multidimensional smart interaction experience.

It has exceptional mobility, with full-body degrees of freedom. The robot features customisable movements through simulation learning and continuous evolution.

It also features surround-sound 3D speakers that mimic human voice direction.

Each leg contains six degrees of freedom, with three hip joints, one knee joint, and two ankle joints.

Each arm has five degrees of freedom: two shoulder joints, one upper arm joint, one elbow joint, and one forearm joint.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
It’s clear that robotics is advancing at an incredible pace. EngineAI’s front-flipping robot is an example of the ingenuity* and innovation in the field. It makes you wonder what amazing feats robots will be performing in another 10 years.

How important do you think realistic movement is for the acceptance and integration of humanoid robots into everyday life?

The original article was published by Fox News was reproduced with permission and has been edited for Kids News

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GLOSSARY

• robotics: branch of engineering and computer science that involves the conception, design, manufacture and operation of robots
• humanoid: a non-human creature or machine that looks or acts like a human being
• motor control: ability to control posture and movement
• angular velocity: time rate at which an object rotates, or revolves
• torque: he magnitude of the force required to rotate an object about its axis
• anatomy: structure of a body as well as the scientific study of the body and how its parts are arranged
• open-source: computer code designed to be publicly accessible and something people can modify and share
• gait: walking pattern, how someone or something walks
• aesthetics: how someone or something appears, what they look like
• ingenuity: skill or cleverness in thinking, performing, or using things in new ways

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QUICK QUIZ

1. In what direction was the robot’s full body rotation?
2. Which three human qualities did the robot not have?
3. How tall is this robot model and how much does it weigh?
4. What is the retail value of the robot according to the Engine AI site?
5. What specified features does each leg contain?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Robots in the future
Think about what life will look like when you’re a working adult in 10 to 15 years’ time.

Sketch and label what a robot in the home might look like in the year 2040.

Also write a promotional paragraph on what features it has, its uses and cost.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Design and Technologies, Digital Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
What cool tricks would you like companies like EngineAI to code the robots to do?

Write your trick and its purpose and share with a classmate.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Digital Technologies, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read with Kung Fu punctuation
Pair up with the article between you and stand up to make it easy to demonstrate your Kung Fu punctuation.

Practise reading one sentence at a time. Now read it again, while acting out the punctuation as you read.

Read and act three sentences before swapping with your partner.

Take two turns each.

Now ask your partner to read a sentence out loud while you try and act out the punctuation. Can you keep up? Swap over?

Try acting out two sentences – are you laughing yet?