Johnson Roberson is one of those dual threats who offers insight from two different and important perspectives. In addition to his long academic career, which most recently saw him serve as a professor at the University of Michigan School of Engineering, he also has a strong startup resume.
Johnson Roberson also co-founded and serves as co-founder and CTO of automated delivery startup Refraction AI.
What role(s) will generative AI play in the future of robotics?
Generative AI, with its ability to generate new data and solutions, will greatly enhance the capabilities of robots. It can enable them to generalize better across a wide range of tasks, enhance their ability to adapt to new environments, and improve their ability to learn and develop independently.
What are your thoughts on the humanoid form factor?
The human form factor represents a truly complex engineering and design challenge. The desire to imitate human movement and interaction creates high standards for actuators and control systems. It also presents unique challenges in terms of balance and coordination. Despite these challenges, the human form has the potential to be highly versatile and intuitively usable in a variety of social and practical contexts, reflecting natural human interface and interaction. But we will likely see other platforms succeed before these platforms.
After manufacturing and warehouses, what is the next major category of robots?
Beyond manufacturing and warehousing, the agricultural sector presents a huge opportunity for robotics to address the challenges of labor shortages, efficiency and sustainability. Last-mile transportation and delivery are other areas where robots can boost efficiency, reduce costs and improve service levels. These areas are likely to see rapid adoption of robotic solutions as technologies mature and as regulatory frameworks develop to support wider deployment.
How real are general purpose robots?
The emergence of true general-purpose robots, capable of performing a wide range of tasks in different environments, may still be a distant reality. It requires breakthroughs in multiple fields including artificial intelligence, machine learning, materials science and control systems. The journey towards achieving this diversity is a step-by-step process, as robots will gradually evolve from being task-specific to being multi-functional and ultimately general-purpose.
Will home robots (other than vacuum cleaners) take off in the next decade?
The next decade may see the emergence of home robots in specific areas, such as elderly care or home security. However, the vision of a general-purpose home robot that can perform a variety of household tasks autonomously is likely a long way off. The challenges are not limited to technology, but also include aspects such as affordability, user acceptance, and ethical considerations.
What’s an important robotics story/trend that doesn’t get enough coverage?
Despite significant advances in some specialized fields and successful robotic applications in specific industries, these stories are often overshadowed by the appeal of futuristic or general-purpose robotic narratives. Increasing but impactful successes in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, or specialized industrial applications deserve more spotlight because they represent real, tangible progress in robotics.