Robotics Special: Humanoid race heats up

The race to build the first consumer-ready humanoid robot went up a notch this week, as Meta threw its hat in the ring and Figure introduced a new AI designed to help robots think like humans. But a small UK startup could just beat them all to the punch.

P.S. The Robotics Special is designed to help you stay on the cutting edge of the latest breakthroughs and products in the industry. Our regular AI and Tech updates will resume as usual on Monday.

WHAT’S NEXT

The most important news and breakthroughs in robotics this week

Meta Moonshot: After sizable investments in AI, Meta is eyeing its next big plunge — humanoid robotics. According to a leaked memo, the company is building a new division within Reality Labs to develop AI hardware and software platforms for household tasks. The Facebook-maker has enlisted top industry talent like Marc Whitten (former Cruise CEO) to lead its robotics push, and is reportedly already in talks with startups Unitree and Figure AI.

Task Titan: Figure AI just unveiled Helix, a groundbreaking Vision-Language-Action model that helps humanoid robots think more like humans. It integrates perception, language, and control, enabling robots to handle complex tasks like picking up unfamiliar objects and collaborating across multiple units. Unlike other systems, Helix can handle objects it's never seen before using natural language prompts—no coding required. You can watch it in action here.

Bio Bot: Clone Robotics just unveiled Protoclone, a faceless, anatomically accurate android with more than 1,000 synthetic muscles, 500 sensors, and over 200 degrees of freedom—more than any humanoid on the market. This breakthrough closes the gap between humans and machines, bringing robots closer to human-like dexterity and functionality. Some X users are concerned that this crosses major ethical fault lines. 

Needle Mover: UK robotics startup Humanoid is looking to take Big Tech head-on. The company just unveiled HMND 01, a general-purpose humanoid robot that can walk, lift, and handle complex tasks like a human. Test units are expected to roll out this year.

Surgical Shift: Medtronic is finally bringing its robot surgeon, Hugo, to operating rooms in the US. The medical giant has been testing the waters in Europe since 2021, already doubling its procedure volume year over year internationally. Now, the company is looking to submit its application for FDA approval by the end of March—a direct challenge to Intuitive Surgical, which has largely dominated the $2B robot surgery market with its da Vinci bot. 

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FROM THE FRONTIER

Cyborg cockroaches could be the search-and-rescue workers of the future

We live in a world of unreachable places. Search-and-rescue operations, researchers, and surveillance teams often struggle to navigate disaster zones, deep caves, or rugged, uneven terrains — dangerous areas where even the most advanced robots fail to keep up.

Scientists at Osaka University in Japan came up with an innovative solution to tackle this challenge. Instead of pouring money into complex AI models or expensive, high-tech robotics, they tapped into something already geared for survival in the harshest of conditions: insects. The researchers decided to outfit these critters with small electronic circuits and use their natural instincts — like climbing, wall-following, and squeezing into tight spots — to provide directional guidance, making them the perfect explorers for extreme environments.

They decided to test this idea. By attaching sensors and small electronic controllers to cockroaches, they found that they could guide them through unpredictable terrain with minimal energy use. Tested on obstacle courses featuring sand, stones, and wood, these cyborg cockroaches successfully navigated tough terrains, proving their mettle for real-world applications.

Why this matters:

• Cyborg cockroaches could help spot survivors in collapsed buildings and hazardous areas, navigate unstable structures to assess damage, and explore fragile historical sites — places where humans and traditional robots struggle.

• Their low power consumption makes them a cost-effective and sustainable solution for long-term missions.

• As researchers refine their speed and navigation, these biohybrids could take on even more roles in science, rescue operations, and security.

ROBOTS IN ACTION

How robots are transforming the world around us

Cyber Serve: Uber Eats is rolling out robot food delivery in Jersey City. Residents can now get their food delivered by Avride’s sidewalk delivery bots, which can trudge through snow and rain to deliver food within a one-square-mile area downtown.

Hoop Helper: The NBA just unveiled its latest recruits — AI-powered robots that train alongside players and boost performance. These machines track micro-movements, simulate game pressure, and even deliver pep talks. Watch them play ball here.

Trek Tech: Tourists climbing China’s Mount Tai are using AI-powered robotic exoskeletons to help with the 7,000-step ascent. Weighing just 4 pounds, the devices push users forward, making the trek accessible for seniors and mobility-impaired visitors.

Micro Marvel: Cedars-Sinai Hospital just made history, performing the first FDA-approved robot-assisted microsurgery for head and neck cancer. Using the Symani Surgical System, surgeons operated on blood vessels thinner than human hair with incredible precision.

Spot Check: BMW has enlisted Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot to patrol its factory floors, identifying maintenance blind spots using thermal imaging, acoustic sensors, and 3D scanning. Even interns can operate Spot, allowing the company to scale inspections without specialist training.

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ROBO REEL

Watch: Unitree’s G1 humanoid breaks out the moves in viral video

Unitree is pushing the frontier on what the G1 can do. The company just posted footage of the humanoid busting out some seriously impressive dance moves.

If you think the video looks fake, you’re not alone. The footage has sparked a storm on socials, with many users claiming it looks AI-generated. CEO XingXing Wang was quick to shut down the chatter. He posted a follow-up clip on Rednote, featuring the G1 dancing before a mirror — sound on, no edits, no doubt.

SOCIAL SIGNALS

What’s trending in Robotics on socials this week

⚡Progress Pulse: In a recent appearance on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast, Chris Camillo, an investor in Figure AI, talked about advancements in humanoid robots and how quickly the tech is progressing.

🚀 Space Surge: Elon Musk just upped the ante, revealing that SpaceX plans to send Starship rockets to Mars carrying Tesla’s Optimus robots and Grok in just 3 years. If Musk’s timeline holds, it could mean the first Martian workforce might not be human.

💪 Pickup Power: Chinese scientists have created an impressive new reinforcement learning (RL) platform called HoST, which helps robots pick themselves up after a fall without relying on rigid, predefined motions. Catch it in action here.

🛠️ Weight Warrior: Youtuber Simon Sörensen just built a homemade heavy-lift drone capable of carrying 220 pounds — and the internet is loving it. Using a lightweight aluminum frame, the drone pushes the limits of electric UAVs. Watch it here.

🎭 Drone Drama: A drone light show in China has got Reddit buzzing. Some users can’t get enough of the tech behind it, while others claim the video’s been sped up and wouldn’t look nearly as impressive in real-time. Watch it here and decide for yourself.

MARKET MOVEMENTS

Acquisitions, investments, funding, and more

Here are the biggest developments in the robotics space that you should know about:

• According to the Information, NVIDIA-backed robotics startup Field AI is in talks to raise hundreds of millions at a $2B valuation — a 4x jump from last summer’s $500M mark.

• Robotics startup Figure AI is reportedly in talks to raise $1.5B at a $39.5B valuation — 15x higher than last year’s $2.6B mark.

• ICON, a leader in 3D-printed homes, has secured $56M in Series C funding, led by Norwest Venture Partners and Tiger Global to build its multi-story robotic printer, Phoenix.

• Topcon Positioning Systems and Bonsai Robotics are joining forces to bring autonomous farming to permanent crops — blending Bonsai’s AI-powered vision-based navigation with Topcon’s precision sensors and smart implements.

• Indian robotics startup Ati Motors has raised $20M in Series B funding to expand globally and advance product development.

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