Innovate today for a new tomorrow

University Applied Physics Laboratory, made an impact with an asteroid called Dimorphos on September 26, 2022. The DART spacecraft smashed into the asteroid at 3.7 miles per second, around 85 feet from the center of the rock. The collision knocked the asteroid off its course. While Dimorphos wasn’t on a collision course with Earth, NASA wanted to test its ability to deflect an asteroid with a kinetic impactor before an Earththreatening asteroid is discovered.

Agility Robotics and RoboTire had two of the more unique systems. Agility Robotics started testing its Digit humanoid with logistics customers in 2022, initially targeting applications such as moving totes and packages. Humanoid robots have existed for a number of years, but none have been designed and sold to industrial customers to perform useful tasks.

RoboTire’s automated tire-changing system uses robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning to change four tires in under 25 minutes. A typical system involves smaller robotic arms that focus on the bolts of the tires and larger robotic arms that lift the tire off the car and put a new tire back on. The robot, which has been installed at numerous locations around the U.S., aligns the tire with the rim of a car to ensure proper fit and balance.

Stepping up for social good

There were four winners of social good awards, including the Coalition Against Weaponization of General Purpose Robots, MassRobotics, Meijer and Tatum Robotics. Meijer deployed robots to clean up beaches and waterways as part of the ongoing Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Program.

In October 2022, six leading companies formed the Coalition Against the Weaponization of General Purpose Robots. Agility Robotics, ANYbotics, Boston Dynamics, Clearpath Robotics, Open Robotics and Unitree wrote an open letter pledging not to support the weaponization of their robots or software. Understanding their commitment alone is not enough to fully address the risk of weaponized robots, the coalition called on others in the industry and