The future is here
AUT is providing students and the general public with the opportunity for a unique encounter with next generation humanoid robots - the first wave of transformative technology bringing together cutting-edge robotics, optics and AI capabilities.
A pair of Unitree G1 Edu Ultimate humanoid robots will be used in teaching and research and are described as a forerunner of consumer-accessible robots that could soon become common place.
According to AUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, the University has a particular interest in leading the way to explore and understand emerging technologies from a human-centred perspective.
"As New Zealand's university of technology, we take seriously our mission to educate students for the future, which will include working on, and with, robots, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies," says Professor Salesa.
The two 130cm robots – named AUTo and AUTaia – were revealed to the public at AUT LIVE, the University's Open Day, on Saturday 30 August.
Postgraduate students in areas of study including Mechatronics Engineering, Software
Engineering, Data Science, AI and a range of Computer and Information Sciences will have the opportunity to be involved in research projects with the humanoid robots.
Research themes being explored by the School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences include developing techniques for humanoid robots to learn movements by mimicking humans or another robot, and safer robot and human collaboration.
Professor Edmund Lai says that the interaction between humans and robots when performing tasks collaboratively is a critical area of focus to ensure safety and efficiency.
"We need better techniques so that robots can adapt their action in dynamically changing and constrained environments – like people do," says Professor Lai.
From sociological perspective, research to understand humanoid robot interaction in the New Zealand community will explore the social and behavioural aspects of integrating robots into our daily lives – how will individuals, and different communities and age groups respond to them?
AUTo and AUTaia will be engaging with students, staff, guests, and members of the public at a range of AUT events and opportunities over the coming months.