A humanoid robot with ballistic protection and AI has earned a place in the US Army’s growing robotics push.
Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition’s (IHMC) “Alex” recently won the service’s xTechHumanoid competition, putting the platform on the army’s radar for potential military applications.
Weighing 85 kilograms (187 pounds) with its battery, the robot features impact-resilient actuators, ballistic protection, and a hybrid autonomy system that blends AI with human control.
Alex is designed to operate as an integrated member of a squad, with its maneuverability, durability, autonomy, and search capabilities potentially allowing it to take on tasks in dangerous environments.
IHMC said the system could also be adapted as a human avatar for first responders, allowing emergency personnel to conduct searches and other hazardous tasks from a safer distance.
The system builds on the robotics team’s work on Nadia, another humanoid robot that gained attention through demonstrations involving ping-pong and boxing.
Senior Research Scientist Dr. Robert Griffin said the team plans to reduce Alex’s overall weight, which could improve its speed and performance.
“Humanoid robots are part of a broader autonomy push to increase the depth and breadth of robotic platforms and components industry can provide for a range of missions,” said Dr. Alex Miller, chief technology officer for the US Army.
“We are identifying … the industry landscape and fast-tracking promising technology rather than falling victim to years-long studies.”
Four Supporting Technologies
IHMC was one of five companies to win the competition organized by Army FUZE xTech in partnership with the Humanoid Community of Collaboration.
Another winner, Velocity Explorations, developed software that uses command-and-control technology to translate trusted information and commander intent into actions for humanoid robots.
Hydroplane Limited’s winning entry was a lightweight, compact mobile power-generation system designed to provide long-duration power in contested logistics environments.
ACES Group brought an integrated power system aimed at meeting the energy demands of humanoid robots through scalable energy-storage technologies.
Rounding out the winners, RAS Labs developed highly sensitive fingertip tactile sensors that allow robotic systems to detect force, object shape, slip, and other physical interactions.
