Kepler did not wait for the robots to make the coffee to send them to the assembly lines. In a recently published video, we discover his humanoid robot K2, nicknamed “Bumblebee”, at work in the Saic-GM factory in Shanghai. It is not just there to make it pretty: the robot carries heavy parts, manipulates tools, checks the quality of the components and walks (slowly) between the machines without tripping.
A strong, agile and not stupid robot
This arrival marks an important step for Kepler, who launches his tests in real conditions. K2 is not an awkward prototype: it is the fifth generation of the Forerunner range. It has a lot of developments in relation to the previous model, with better coordination, a finer perception of its environment, and above all, an ability to learn by itself. Thanks to an imitation and strengthening learning system, it is able to progress without the need for an operator on the back permanently.
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On the physical side, the robot also took muscle: reinforced arms and legs, new sensors at your fingertips, and a battery that allows it to work up to eight hours in a row. Each hand has 11 degrees of freedom – enough to manipulate complex objects – and it can lift up to 15 kg without flinching.
If Kepler begins with industry, this is only the beginning. The company presents its robot as a multi-purpose tool. In schools, he could help students learn by interacting with them, even to have scientific experiences. In research, it would be used to collect data or manipulate precision equipment.
And that’s not all. The robot would also be capable of patrolling in complex environments to ensure security, thanks to its HD cameras, its infrared sensors and its Lidar system. In the event of an incident, it can even provide first assistance.
Kepler also imagines his robots in warehouses, managing stocks, avoiding obstacles, or even in more dangerous areas: extreme temperatures, radiation, explosive environment … Apparently, he is not afraid to get the circuits.
With this deployment in Shanghai, Kepler joins the race for “useful” robots, alongside other actors like Figure, already present at BMW. The real question, now: will these humanoids pass the test of industrial daily life without bug or misstep? Kepler seems to believe it. Will factories around the world follow?
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