Baxter's New Software Doubles Robot's Speed

 Robotics  

Rethink Robotics has released a software upgrade for Baxter that impressively doubles the speed and improves the dexterity of the robot. Are we seeing what Moore's Law means for the future of robotics?

The promise of robotics has always been that they will get better and eventually take their place alongside humans, or even replace them.  When Rodney Brooks and his company, Rethink Robotics released their robot Baxter in September 2012, that promise was reiterated, but the speed of the robot still was nowhere near that of a person.

Now, a new software upgrade seems to have brought Moore's Law to the robot.

"Intera 3 is the latest and greatest realization of our vision – and it’s only going to continue improving from here."

Intera 3 is the latest and by far the most impressive version of Rethink Robotics' software platform for manufacturing and production applications - with twice the speed, precision, and motion quality. As demonstrated in the video above, Baxter does the same task almost 3 times faster on Intera 3, versus the 2013 version of the software.

According to Rethink, Intera 3 provides:

• -2-3 times the speed

• -Twice the precision

• -Improved motion quality

• -Expanded application opportunities, including machine tending and improved performance for line loading, packing, kitting and more

The Rethink Robotics website also states:

When we launched our flagship robot Baxter, we introduced a concept (collaborative robotics) that revolutionized how repetitive production tasks could be performed in industrial environments.  Over the past year and a half, we have continued to build steadily on our own innovation platform, with several incremental improvements to the robot’s performance, capabilities and ease of use.  Intera 3 is the latest and greatest realization of our vision – and it’s only going to continue improving from here.

Related articles Rodney Brooks on Why We Will Rely on Robots  Rodney Brooks Says Connected Robots Will Change Our Lives  Can Baxter The Robot Revive The US Economy?

After a little more than a year on the job at manufacturing and production facilities throughout the U.S., Baxter has integrated into the workforce and become a valuable return on investment for its employers. With far more speed, precision and motion quality of the original version that shipped in early 2013, Baxter is more conceivable as a robot worker than ever.  In the video below, he even jokingly gets a promotion.

The improvement reminds us of what Hugo de Garis said. "How much would you pay for a robot that was smart enough to be useful, but not so smart that it is a threat?...Move along a bit,...so you can imagine that people will update their home robot every couple of years...so next step, the next model closes the IQ gap between human and machines." At this stage everyone will see the rise of the machines.

This leap in improvement from Rethink Robotics is already impressive.  Imagine what the next few will be like.




More of Baxter's new improved capabilities:



SOURCE  Rethink Robotics

By 33rd Square

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