Robots
Discover robot breakthroughs and follow the human story behind a technology reshaping everyday life.
Level 1
Humanoid robots are not in our homes because robot bodies still lag far behind AI
Humanoid robots remain rare outside labs and pilot factory trials because their bodies are not yet ready for the messy,…
Level 2
videoJapanese capsule H2L lets you control a humanoid robot with simple muscle twitches
A Tokyo-based start-up called H2L has unveiled a “Capsule Interface” that turns the operator’s own body into a remote controller…
videoReachy 2: first open-source humanoid robot for object handling and human interaction
Hugging Face launches Reachy 2, the first commercially available open-source humanoid robot Hugging Face has introduced Reachy 2, a $70,000…
Touchscreen kiosks at McDonald’s did not kill jobs, they shifted work and nudged larger orders
Self service kiosks at McDonald’s were expected to replace cashiers. In practice, they changed where people work inside the restaurant.…
videoBreakthrough in robotics: artificial muscles developed for robots
Artificial muscles enable robotic leg to walk and jump autonomously Scientists at the Max Planck Institute have developed artificial muscles…
videoRobots equipped with AI can now independently perform repairs on other robots
Researchers from Stanford and DeepMind have developed the Aloha Unleashed project, where AI-powered robots are capable of autonomously performing complex…
videoBeyond the factory floor: the rise of humanoid robots and the future of work
This excerpt explores the exciting emergence of general-purpose humanoid robots like Apollo, which are designed to work alongside humans in…
Level 3
videoHMND‑01 modular humanoid robot targets mass‑market use
HMND‑01 modular humanoid robot targets mass‑market use with modular parts; Humanoid’s wheeled and bipedal alpha tests are planned for 2025.
videoApple home robot research shows an expressive lamp
Apple home robot research shows a lamp‑like prototype using expressive motion; the ELEGNT paper and video hint at an Apple tabletop robot and smart display.
videoUnitree G1 humanoid robot can now run (but autonomy lags)
Unitree G1 humanoid robot shows real running gains; H1 dances in sync. Price $16,000. We explain teleoperated demos, whole body control, and what to watch next.
videoWater powered humanoid robot muscles mimic human movement
Water powered humanoid robot muscles from Clone Robotics show how hydraulic artificial muscles and biomimetic design can bring lifelike motion to robots.
videoTiangong: the world’s first electric running humanoid robot goes open source
Tiangong, the world's first electric running humanoid robot, goes open source to speed up innovation in embodied AI and robotics with speeds up to 12 km/h.
videoXPeng Iron humanoid robot brings humanoids into car factories
China's XPeng unveils 'Iron', an advanced humanoid robot with 200 degrees of freedom, now being tested in its EV factories.