The advent of the full-fledged ‘Humanoid era’ and patents as seen through CES2025

 ‘CES 2025’, where cutting-edge technologies are being competed against each other, was recently held in Las Vegas, USA. CES is the world’s largest consumer electronics exhibition that showcases not only already commercialized technologies and products, but also technologies that foresee the future. This year, it was held on the largest scale ever, with over 4,500 companies, organizations, and groups participating. In particular, robots and humanoid technologies, which are the pinnacle of AI technology, are said to have attracted the most attention this year. In this issue, we will learn about humanoid technologies presented by leading global companies and the patents contained within them.

Humanoid 'Aura' on display at CES2025
<source: etnews, https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/030/00032752>

‘AI Godfather’ Jensen Huang declares the era of full-fledged humanoids

  Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, a figure shaking up the IT industry, appeared as a keynote speaker at CES2025. In his keynote speech, he announced a plan for ‘Physical AI’ represented by robots and autonomous driving. He also introduced humanoid robots currently being produced by partners and predicted the arrival of a full-fledged humanoid era.

Jensen Huang giving a keynote speech at CES2025
<source: fnnews.com>

Tesla’s ‘Optimus’

  Tesla, which has influence beyond the electric car market to other areas, has also set its sights on the humanoid market. Tesla's humanoid called 'Optimus' has gone through several advancements and modeling since its first public release in 21 years and is now almost complete. Elon Musk announced that Optimus will be sold worldwide starting this year, starting in the United States.

(left) Tesla's humanoid Optimus
(right) Optimus folding clothes with sophisticated hand movements

  Tesla's Optimus is equipped with all the actuators, sensors, and AI engines that Tesla designed with its own technology. The level of perfection of humanoid technology is determined by delicate hand movements and interactions, and Tesla is confident that Optimus has been implemented the most sophisticated and natural hand movements among existing humanoids.

What technology is Tesla's Optimus based on?

  This technology enables it to grasp various objects stably and naturally, just like a human hand. The joints connected by cables are operated by advanced actuators, allowing more flexible and safe hand movements.

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WO2024-073138 A1, 'Underactuated hand with cable-driven fingers'

  The following is the lower body technology of Optimus. It is a robotic knee joint system designed to stretch, walk, and move like human knees. Tesla's self-developed actuator is also utilized here, and it is said that each joint that constitutes the leg and knee is designed to be independent by the actuator and can walk and rotate in the desired direction.

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WO2024-073135 A1, 'Systems and methods for a robot knee joint assembly'

Home hub robot that takes charge of my house instead of me

  The robot with the fastest commercialization and fiercest competition in the AI ​​robot and humanoid field is the home hub robot. Although it does not have a human appearance like a humanoid, its functions have already reached the level of replacing humans.

  Samsung Electronics' 'Bally' is a ball-shaped AI robot that learns and evolves on its own, follows people around like their owners, controls home appliances and IoT devices, and interacts with children and pets.

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KR10-2022-0011742, 'Moving robot and control method thereof'

  LG Electronics' 'Q9' is an AI home hub robot that also controls home appliances and IoT devices and interacts with people. LG Electronics is said to have made a strategic partnership with Microsoft to further enhance Q9.

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KR10-2023-0054228, 'Robot'

  Highly trained robots such as China's Unitree's 'G1' and TCL's 'Hey Amy' also attracted a lot of attention from visitors.

China's TCL's Hey Amy unveiled at CES2025
<source: News1>

Coexistence with humanoids that has become a reality

  Today, we learned about AI robots, humanoids, and patents that heated up CES2025. Previous AI robots and humanoids had a strong mechanical feel due to their somewhat slow response and limited functional implementation, but recently released robots are becoming truly ‘human’ in terms of their fast response, active interaction, and even appearance. As AI is being demanded and applied across all industries, robot technology is also developing rapidly. Let’s watch together to see how far humanoids and AI robots, which are becoming more and more human-like, will grow.

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