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Introducing Our New Prototype Rosie

by Duncan Miller on October 29, 2024
Introducing Our New Prototype Rosie image

We are introducing our latest prototype: Rosie the Robot, which we are now using in our lab to collect machine learning datasets.

This prototype will help us to develop a proof of concept for our autonomous disassembly system for EV batteries by demonstrating that we can collect human guided training data and use that data to train a transformer neural network. We will then demonstrate our ability to transfer skills from the human to the Rosie to be performed autonomously.

Rosie the Robot

Yes we watched the Jetson’s growing up and Rosie is an homage to Rosie the Robot, the autonomous robot housekeeper of the Jetson family. We also believe that the existential need to mobilize the world against climate change requires a movement akin to the ‘We Can Do It’ spirit of Rosie the Riveter.

Introducing Rosie

Built on Stanford University researchers’ open-source ALOHA platform, Rosie allows a human operator to control two robotic arms with precision. Its three onboard cameras and onboard laptop capture video and joint position data, which can then be used as machine learning training data to train a transformer neural network.

This advanced system enables the transfer of skills to Rosie, allowing it to perform tasks autonomously after being trained by human demonstration. This leap forward in robotics and machine learning is enabled by the advancements in transformer neural networks, the technology behind Large Language Models like ChatGPT. Transformer neural networks are essentially prediction machines, but instead of using the to predict language tokens to write text, we use them to predict motion control signals to move Rosie.

While Rosie is a rudimentary prototype working with small scale batteries like e-bike batteries, our vision is to develop an EV-battery pack scale system which has the ability to learn and evolve through AI, gathering knowledge provided by human demonstration to enhance its capabilities and becoming autonomous over time.

Check out this video showing us using Rosie in the lab.

Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this exciting new journey!

  • Photo of Duncan Miller

    Duncan Miller

    Co-founder / CEO

    Duncan has 20 years of experience in climate and AI startups with roles in business development, finance and software engineering. He has expertise in automation software, test-driven AI development, user interface design and climate technologies. Duncan earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College and participated in four exit events, two as a founder. He lives with his wife and two children in Portland Oregon on an extinct cinder code volcano. He is passionate about robotics, artificial intelligence, climate solutions, public benefit companies and social entrepreneurship.