[Science World] The Hidden Obstacles to the Commercialization of Humanoid Robots

Published 13 Dec.2022 11:23(KST)

[Asia Economy] On September 30th, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveiled a humanoid robot named ‘Optimus.’ Musk stated, “It could be commercially available for about $20,000 (approximately 26 million KRW) in 3 to 5 years.” But is this really realistic?

What technologies are needed for robots to enter our society? First, they must be able to support their own bodies. This aspect has already reached a considerable level. There are humanoid robots that can walk and run on two legs, and even robots capable of performing advanced gymnastic movements. To perceive the surrounding environment, make decisions independently, and move accordingly, artificial intelligence (AI) is also necessary. Considering the recent remarkable advancements in technology, this too does not seem like a mere dream.

However, there remains one major challenge: the ‘hand.’ Many robotics experts cite the hand as the biggest obstacle to the practical use of humanoid robots. Most humanoid robots currently seen have hands that only resemble human hands in shape but are significantly lacking in function?these are ‘anthropomorphic’ hands. They are ‘fake hands’ with poor ability to grasp and move objects.

To solve this problem, ‘dextrous’ hands developed to imitate human hand functions are needed. But this is not an easy task. Creating a proper robot hand means organically controlling five mechanical fingers composed of multiple joints. It is similar to placing five industrial robots on a narrow desk and asking them to cooperate and work together. Moreover, human hands can sense pressure, temperature, and tactile sensations, but current sensor technology is far from sufficient to replicate these senses. There are even specialists in robotics who focus solely on researching hands.

When will humanoid robots be able to assist us in daily life? Simple tasks such as lifting and moving light objects seem possible with current technology. However, if you expect a ‘robot assistant’ to meticulously handle complex and difficult tasks, it is believed that at least several decades more will be needed. This is because making a proper robot hand is that challenging.