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The Revolutionizing Impact of Newton in Robotics

The realm of robotics is about to experience a significant transformation, thanks to the recent contributions from some technology giants. The Linux Foundation has announced the induction of Newton, a state-of-the-art open-source physics engine that has been co-developed by Disney Research, Google DeepMind, and NVIDIA. This framework aims to accelerate the learning and capabilities of generalist robots, bringing us closer to realizing the potentials of robotics in various applications.

What is Newton?

Newton represents a significant leap forward regarding physics simulation. This GPU-accelerated engine is designed for extensibility, allowing robotics developers to perform faster and more scalable simulations. By lowering barriers to entry, it fosters innovation within the robotics community, enabling developers at various skill levels to contribute more effectively.

Built upon NVIDIA Warp and OpenUSD, Newton enables intricate and complex behaviors in robotic systems. As robots will often operate in unpredictable environments, the engine supports multiple physics solvers, allowing machines to navigate diverse terrains, including snow and gravel, and interact with delicate objects, such as cups and fruit. By enabling faster learning processes and more accurate simulations, Newton prepares robots to engage with real-world scenarios effectively.

How Does Newton Benefit Developers?

Jim Zemlin, the executive director of the Linux Foundation, highlights the advantages of introducing Newton, stating, "Bringing Newton to the Linux Foundation marks an important step forward for scaling collaborative robotics simulation that accelerates development, reduces costs, and gets us closer to the future of sim-to-real robots." This initiative represents an essential development in the path toward creating robust, adaptable robots that can undertake various tasks with reliability.

The project has gathered support from respected institutions, including the Technical University of Munich and Peking University, along with committed partnerships from companies such as Lightwheel and Style3D. The collaborative atmosphere fostered under the Linux Foundation ensures that Newton remains vendor neutral, endorsing inclusive growth and maintaining long-term accessibility.

A Vision for the Future

Disney Research's representative, Moritz Bächer, emphasizes their commitment to authenticity in robotics, stating, "At Disney, we don't leave a stone unturned to physically represent our beloved characters as authentically as possible in our Parks." With the creation of Newton, they have equipped themselves with the expertise to simulate the most complex robotic systems effectively.

NVIDIA's vice president, Rev Lebaredian, elaborated on the necessity of simulation in training robotic intelligence. He explained, "Robots, like intelligence, must first be trained in simulation before they can safely operate in the real world. Newton combines GPU acceleration, differentiable physics, and open standards like OpenUSD into an open-source platform for robotics. Under the Linux Foundation, we're enabling the global community to accelerate robotics innovation – making general-purpose robots faster to develop, more affordable to build, and more reliable to deploy."

Community Participation

Contributing to the development of Newton is an opportunity for developers and enthusiasts to collaborate on innovative solutions that push the boundaries of what robots can achieve. Those interested can follow the technological advancements and contribute to the beta development of Newton by visiting the official GitHub page.

As the field of robotics continues to grow, resources such as Newton stand to democratize technology access and broaden the landscape for research and development, ultimately paving the way for a future where robots are integral in various facets of daily life.

About the Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is acclaimed for fostering collaboration on open-source software and hardware, playing a pivotal role in many critical global infrastructure projects. With a strong focus on best practices and community engagement, it champions models for sustainable collaboration that address both user and provider needs. Their commitment to advancing open-source technology continues to pave the way towards significant innovations across numerous industries.