Apple explores both humanoid and non-humanoid robotic formal factors, according to Nova Scoop By longtime Apple analyst Ming-chi Kuo. The Intel comes on the heels of Research paper From the iPhone manufacturer who explores human interactions with “non-anthropomorphic” robots-specific pixar-style lamp.
While Apple’s research paper emphasizes elements that could inform a possible consumer robot, the work mainly lights up for a company’s progress still intermingled in the early research stages of a complex field. Kuo qualifies the work as a “early proof concept”, adding that the Apple Car Project was effectively abandoned in a similarly early stage. Citing “current advances and typical development cycles”, Kuo Projects 2028 as an optimistic timeline for mass production.
What makes robots unique compared to other early stage pomp projects-as it is said Folding iPhone -It is the level of transparency of the noticeably tense apple. (This is the same company that, as part of a legal settlement, recently required a public apology from a former iOS engineer who have leaked details about the Vision Pro.)
It is unjustifiable. Progress in robotics is supported by work from universities and research facilities, along with back stage corporate projects. Over the past several years, many robot companies have faced difficulties hiring fast enough to support liberation timelines, which have accelerated at the age of generative AI. Publishing research for the public reading is a great resource for promotional engineers.
Kuo suggests that the use of the “non-anthropomorphic research paper” qualification is designed to distinguish the robot from humanoid research.
“While the industry is debating the merits of humanoid against non-Humanoid projects,” he writes, “supply chain checks indicate that Apple cares more about how users build perception with robots than their physical appearance […] Implying sensing hardware and software serves as the core technologies. ”
Widely speaking, “anthropomorphic” can be applied to robot systems beyond what we could usually classify as a humanoid. This includes systems influenced by human traits, but is not exactly one-to-one humanoid with two arms, two legs and face. Apple seems to be in the phase to “throw it at the wall”, with work that ranges from simple systems to complex Humanoids.
Kuo is widely related to the proof concept system as part of a “future smart home ecosystem.” That could mean anything from a full humanoid designed for homework until smart home screen with mechanical arm. The leaks around the work suggested this -last – which is far more plausible than to get out of the gate with a humanoid capable of folding your laundry. Such a product could have a place on a remote road map, but to get it, Apple must first prove that people want a home robot that is not just a vacuum.
Numerous companies that build industrial Humanoids, including 1X, figure, and AppTronik, are exploring a road from the factory floor to the home. Prices and reliability are two major sticking points. If you think the $ 3,499 Vision Pro was a difficult pill to swallow, wait until you see the first blow of Humanoids for the home. Currently the goal is to get a reliable industrial humanoid production to scale, which will reduce the price over time.
After leaving the apple and stumbled of the gate with and the Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence, it is fair to assume that Apple takes cautious access to robots. While Apple has a solid track of popularizing existing product categories, Silicon Valley is filled with the shells of failed home robots. The same can also be said for the smart home category.
One thing we can say for sure is that Apple is actively exploring robotics. Beyond that, we can probably look forward to at least three years of escape and guess.
