NVIDIA’s new Groot N1 AI model enables robots to be more human-like

NVIDIA has just introduced Groot N1, and no, it’s got nothing to do with the beloved Marvel character. Officially named NVIDIA Isaac GR00T N1, this is an open-source, pre-trained AI foundation model designed to accelerate the development of humanoid robots.

By making Groot N1 publicly available, NVIDIA aims to fast-track advancements in robotic intelligence and real-world deployment. Want to learn more? Read on.

Groot N1: NVIDIA’s new generalist AI model for humanoid robots

Unveiled at NVIDIA’s GTC conference in San Jose, California, on March 18, Groot N1 was one of the key highlights of CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote, where he declared, “The age of generalist robotics is here.”

Groot N1 is a generalist AI model, meaning it has been trained on a diverse dataset that includes real-world humanoid movement data, synthetic data generated via the NVIDIA Isaac GR00T Blueprint, and video data from the internet. NVIDIA has also committed to publicly releasing all necessary simulation frameworks and blueprints to support further development in humanoid robotics.

The model is built on a dual-system architecture inspired by human cognitive processes. The first system functions like human reflexes, enabling rapid, instinctive responses to environmental stimuli.

READ MORE: Google just trained a robot to beat humans at table tennis

The second system is a vision-language model, allowing robots to perceive and understand their surroundings more effectively. This architecture enables humanoid robots to perform complex, multi-step tasks such as object manipulation and intricate interactions with their environment.

A leap for robotics development

Groot N1 is the culmination of NVIDIA’s Project Groot, which was first announced at GTC last year. The model has already been granted early access to leading robotics companies, including Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Mentee Robotics, and Neura Robotics, all of which are integrating it into their robotic platforms.

By opening up Groot N1 and its accompanying robot-learning frameworks, NVIDIA is laying the groundwork for a new generation of humanoid robots that can seamlessly adapt to real-world scenarios.

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