A humanoid robot capable of autonomously performing tasks such as roasting marshmallows, performing magic tricks and dancing, among other tasks, has been developed by MagicLab, a startup that specializes in humanoid robots.

The robot, dubbed MagicBot, demonstrates its marshmallow-roasting skills in the accompanying video. First it handles the skewer and pierces the marshmallow, then roasts it over the barbecue grill. Later in the video, the MagicBot folds baby clothes and places them in a basket. Additionally, the robot dances to music, waters a plant and “magically turns an egg into a ball.

Source: MagicLab

To enable the robot to accomplish such tasks, MagicBot’s developers used a combination of miniature high-torque servo actuators and multi-dimensional pressure sensors to create the MagicBot’s dexterous hand.

The developers explained that the robot hand's six miniaturized servo actuators enabled a wide range of object manipulations, thereby facilitating a swift handling experience. Likewise, the dexterous hand, which possesses sub-millimeter positioning accuracy and a several kilogram load capacity, grasps objects of assorted shapes, sizes, weights and substances.

The developers suggest that the hand can mimic roughly 70% of all human hand gestures, which could potentially lead to its use in specialized industrial tasks spanning hazardous material handling, public service and domestic operations, for instance.

MagicBot is also being eyed for assorted applications including search and rescue missions, sports, entertainment, industrial automation, logistics, transportation and more.

For more on the MagicBot, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of MagicLab.