Build a Better Robot

[Whyperion]

a topic for Tizer, or Sue/Bob
I haven't looked elsewhere but I have noted recent (was one on Have I Got News For You last week) Humanoid robots struggling (was one Musk's ? and the other a Russian one ? ) They seem to have problems co-ordinating , some fine motor skills and generally getting balance of a structure that doesnt have a low centre of gravity. Rather shows how good , generally, animal bodies are, and for Robots the small car type ones seem to work better at the present time.

Is trying to replicate a human body other than for what it looks like worth doing ? If so , where can improvements be made. It seems one is in the jointing , which seems to lack tendons and the pull back as well as push out muscles acting in a co-ordinated manner for upper limbs. Similar for lower . I think most have used a rod or thin section metal connectors. Thinking of bones they are more "hollow" giving a lighter weight superstructure and I dont know if that style has been tried - metals could be lightweight Titanium or similar and maybe just need something like "meccano holed" strip rather than bars, or is carbon fibre stronger. Apparentley the best test of a robot is can it load the dishwasher (efficiently) , switch it on and then unload and stack the plates away when ready. It is a big ask for movements controlled by electric motors or air valves or some hydraulic system.