While Sanctuary AI may not always dominate discussions in the same league as humanoid robotics giants like Boston Dynamics, Agility, Figure, and 1X, the company has been a steady player in the field for quite some time.
Presenting its seventh-generation Phoenix line robot, unveiled on Thursday 25th April, the company underscores its commitment to advancing robotic capabilities, particularly focusing on upper body functionality.
Unlike previous iterations that emphasized the addition of legs, Sanctuary prioritizes the torso and upper limbs of its latest robot. The company’s promotional material showcases the robot’s human-like movements while performing tasks such as product sorting, highlighting its agility and rapid learning capabilities.
This generation of Phoenix is one of the most sophisticated human behavioral data capture technologies available today, providing Carbon with some of the highest quality, highest fidelity, training data available. The changes include:
- Increased uptime, making robots more available for training and data capture
- Increased build and commissioning speed, allowing us to bring more units online faster
- Reduced bill of materials, lowering the cost of manufacture
- Significant hardware improvements, increasing range of motion in the wrists, hands, and elbows, and increasing hand durability
- Further miniaturized hydraulics, reducing the weight, power consumption, and complexity with increased hardware and software measures that exceed specified safety standards…. and many more
While much attention in humanoid robotics often centers around mechanical aspects, such as mobility and appearance, the significance of artificial intelligence cannot be overstated. While achieving “general intelligence” akin to humans may still be several years away, contemporary robots are increasingly adept at quickly acquiring new skills.
Sanctuary claims that its latest Phoenix iteration can automate new tasks within a mere 24-hour timeframe.
According to co-founder and CEO Geordie Rose, the seventh-generation robot represents a significant stride towards achieving artificial general intelligence. He views it not only as a cornerstone for general-purpose AI robotics but also as a crucial step towards broader AI advancements.
Although the speed and consistency of task learning may vary, Sanctuary’s accomplishments are noteworthy, particularly considering its recent deal to deploy robots in Magna auto manufacturing facilities. The latest iteration boasts enhancements such as improved uptime, enhanced range of motion, reduced weight, and a more cost-effective bill of materials compared to its predecessors.