Top 7 Robotics Breakthroughs of 2024

2024 witnessed unprecedented advancements in robotics. Figure's $675 million Series B funding, valuing the company at $2.6 billion, propelled humanoid robot development. Boston Dynamics unveiled its new all-electric Atlas robot, paving the way for commercial applications. Nvidia invested in GR00T, aiming to develop a general-purpose foundation model for humanoid robots, addressing the challenge of practical, safe, and reliable robot deployment. The article also explores advancements in robot autonomy versus teleoperation, and the application of robotic metalworking in aerospace. Finally, it recounts the successful mission of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter and the development of its successor.