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Robots used to require assistance to remain operational, needing to be plugged in or manually recharged.
Now, UBTech is revolutionizing this concept.
The company’s latest humanoid creation, the Walker S2, comes with a groundbreaking feature that could potentially transform the landscape of factory work. The Walker S2 can autonomously swap out its own battery without any human intervention, enabling it to operate almost continuously, 24/7.
How the Walker S2 robot swaps its own battery
Instead of halting operations for a recharge, the Walker S2 autonomously navigates to a nearby swap station. When one battery reaches a low charge, the robot rotates its torso, utilizes tools on its arms to remove the depleted battery, replaces it with a fully charged one, and resumes work immediately. This entire process takes approximately three minutes and is reminiscent of the battery-swapping technology used in electric vehicles, but this time it’s tailored for humanoid robots.
What the Walker S2 robot can do
The Walker S2 stands at the height of a small adult, measuring 5 feet and 3 inches tall and weighing 95 pounds. Equipped with two 48-volt lithium batteries, the robot seamlessly switches between them as needed. Each battery provides about two hours of operation while in motion or four hours while stationary. The swap stations also monitor battery health, allowing technicians to replace a battery if it begins to degrade.
The Walker S2 robot is designed for factory floors
UBTech asserts that the Walker S2 is specifically engineered for real-world applications. The robot has been successfully tested in car factories run by BYD, Nio, and Zeekr. Featuring vision systems to detect battery levels, the robots display a green light when a battery is ready for use. The robot then autonomously retrieves the battery, plugs it in using a USB-style connector, and communicates its status to human workers through a display face. Additionally, an emergency stop button is included as a safety measure.
What this means for you
The advent of robots like the Walker S2, capable of functioning continuously, has the potential to reshape various work environments, not just in factories but across different industries. Airports, warehouses, and hospitals may soon incorporate such machines to handle physical tasks, allowing human workers to focus on higher-level responsibilities. For businesses, 24/7 automation offers increased productivity without the need for additional staff, ensuring seamless operations around the clock.
Kurt’s key takeaways
UBTech’s Walker S2 exemplifies the shift of automation from theoretical concepts to practical applications in the workplace. With the ability for battery swapping, humanoid robots may surpass human capabilities by working extended hours without breaks. The integration of such technology signifies a significant advancement that is already being implemented in real-world scenarios.
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