1. New Atlas Boston Dynamics
In April 2024, Boston Dynamics retired their hydraulic Atlas model and introduced a new, fully electric version designed for practical, real-world applications. This transition marks a move from research and development to commercial viability.
The new electric Atlas builds on Boston Dynamics’ extensive experience in robotics innovation, including their success with other robots like Spot and Stretch. The company aims to address challenging industrial needs with this advanced humanoid robot.
Boston Dynamics notes that the robotics landscape has changed dramatically since they began working on humanoid robots a decade ago. They are now leveraging their experience in successfully commercializing robots to develop Atlas into a valuable solution for various industries.
Hyundai, having invested in Boston Dynamics, is collaborating on the development of the new electric Atlas robot and will be among its initial users, testing the technology in their own operations.The automotive company’s manufacturing facilities will serve as a testing ground for new Atlas applications, particularly in next-generation automotive manufacturing.
2. Tesla’s Optimus (United States)
According to Elon Musk’s statement at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting in Texas earlier this year, the Optimus humanoid robot is set to enter production next year despite still being in development. Musk projected that Tesla could deploy “a few thousand” of these robots in its own factories. This indicates Tesla’s commitment to integrating its robotic technology directly into its manufacturing processes, potentially as a real-world testing ground before wider commercial release.
Elon Musk has announced that Tesla may begin selling its humanoid robot, Optimus, as early as the end of 2025, according to Forbes. Musk also made a bold prediction about the potential impact of this product on Tesla’s valuation, suggesting it could help drive the company’s worth to $25 trillion. This statement underscores Musk’s confidence in the Optimus robot’s market potential and its significance to Tesla’s future growth strategy.
Tesla’s Optimus Gen 2 humanoid robot was a major attraction at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, drawing large crowds despite being displayed in a glass case without live demonstrations. The 5’11”, 121-pound robot, which Tesla claims can perform routine tasks like folding laundry, represents the company’s significant investment in robotics technology.
While Elon Musk has suggested the robot could be ready for initial launch by the end of 2024 or 2025, with a projected price between $25,000 and $30,000, no official timeline or pricing has been confirmed.
3. Astribot (China)
Shenzhen-based Astribot, founded in January 2022, specializes in developing consumer humanoid robots and integrated bionic robots. The company operates in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, robotic process automation and robotics. Astribot secured an undisclosed amount in Series A funding in June.
The Astribot S1, presented at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on August 21, is a versatile humanoid robot with a human-like upper body mounted on a wheeled base, allowing for dexterity and practicality. This robot is capable of executing a wide range of tasks, from household chores to delicate manual operations, showcasing its advanced sensory integration and adaptability.
4. Mentee Robotics (Israel)
Mentee Robotics, a Tel Aviv-based startup founded in 2022, is developing an advanced humanoid robot combining robotics, sensing, and artificial intelligence applications. The company has raised $17 million to date and aims to deploy a production-ready prototype by Q1 2025.
Mentee Robotics was founded by a team of AI and computer science experts. The company is led by Prof. Amnon Shashua, a world-renowned figure in AI and founder of Mobileye. He’s joined by CEO Lior Wolf, formerly of Facebook AI Research, and Shai Shalev-Shwartz, a distinguished computer scientist and machine learning researcher.
The company’s flagship product, Menteebot, is designed for versatility across various environments. It promises advanced dexterity for both household and industrial tasks, relying on innovative camera-only sensing technology instead of traditional methods like LIDAR or radar.
While the company doesn’t spell out its targeted industries, Menteebot’s potential applications are likely to require dexterous manipulation and adaptable task performance. In the industrial sector, it could be deployed in manufacturing plants and wa
5. K-Scale Labs (United States)
Founded in 2024, K-Scale Labs is a pre-seed company based in New York. It has raised $500K to date.
As a Y Combinator startup, the company is focused on developing humanoid robots that can handle tasks people often find boring or tedious. With an open-source design being released to the public, these robots are capable of walking, talking, and manipulating objects.
The active founders of K-Scale Labs include Benjamin Bolte, a roboticist and machine learning researcher who has worked on robots at Tesla and Meta. Pawel Budzianowski brings expertise in machine learning, with experience in both research and production, having previously served as the head of ML at PolyAI and earned a PhD from Cambridge. Matthew Freed has a background in mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence.
According to a blog post by co-founder Pawel Budzianowski in August 2024, the team at K-Scale Labs is anticipating a rapid increase in affordable and functional humanoid robots across various settings, from labs to homes. They are committed to open-source development, ensuring that advancements in robotics are accessible to the public.
Their mission is to create a robotics platform that allows enthusiasts and researchers to experiment and innovate with ease, similar to how GPT-2 transformed NLP.
6. Galbot (China)
Galbot, a Beijing-based robotics start-up supported by the Hong Kong government, plans to compete with global tech giants in the humanoid robot market. Co-founder Yao Tengzhou stated that Galbot will use Hong Kong as a gateway to introduce its robots to international markets, particularly in developed regions with high labor costs.
GalaxyBot Robotics Co., Ltd. has completed a 700 million RMB ($96 million) round of financing in June, attracting major investors like Meituan-Dianping, BAIC Capital, and SenseTime.
The company focuses on developing advanced embodied intelligent robots for household use, leveraging their expertise in AI and robotics to enhance adaptability and functionality.
According to the company website, the Galbot G1 robot can assist with various tasks at home, such as cleaning, organizing and fetching items. In retail, it handles stocktaking, restocking and delivering goods in stores and malls. In terms of manufacturing applications, it sorts and packages parts, handling materials of different textures and shapes.
Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) has partnered with Beijing-based humanoid robot start-up Galbot in July 2024 to establish the HK-Galbot Embodied AI Lab. This collaboration aims to boost Hong Kong’s AI industry, with plans for Galbot to explore applications for humanoid robots in sectors like retail and tourism, potentially leading to an IPO.
7. The Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (China)
The Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, located in Tongzhou, Beijing, is part of China’s broader efforts to advance its robotics technology. This startup is developing prototypes of universal humanoid robot bodies, operating across the IT, manufacturing and robotics sectors.
The center is an initiative of SUPCON, a publicly traded company in China that has recently entered the humanoid robotics space. SUPCON has unveiled its own humanoid robot, Navigator α, which stands 1.5 m tall and weighs 50 kg, according to The Robot Report. This robot features advanced capabilities, including dexterous hands with 15 finger joints and a fingertip force of 10N. SUPCON plans to integrate large-scale AI models into its robots and is focusing on bridging the gap between technological research and industrial demand.
The center recently secured $48 million in funding from Beijing Yizhuang Investment Holding. Xu Bin serves as the general manager, though details about other founders are not provided.
A key initiative is the planned establishment of a training complex in Shanghai, aiming to simultaneously train 1,000 robots by 2027. Initially, the facility will accommodate 100 robots.
8. Nvidia’s Project GR00T
NVIDIA has unveiled Project GR00T, a foundation model for humanoid robots, in March 2024 along with significant updates to its Isaac robotics platform.
The company introduced Jetson Thor, a new computer for humanoid robots based on the NVIDIA Thor system-on-a-chip, designed to handle complex tasks and interactions.
NVIDIA is collaborating with leading humanoid robot companies to build a comprehensive AI platform, aiming to accelerate development in the field of embodied AI.
The Isaac platform updates include new tools for robot training simulation, generative AI foundation models, and GPU-accelerated libraries for perception and manipulation, all designed to enhance robot development and performance.
Nvidia imagines GR00T as an AI model that will serve as a “brain” for robots. This ambitious project aims to enable robots to acquire new skills and tackle diverse tasks adaptively. Nvidia researcher Linxi “Jim” Fan described the initiative as their attempt to achieve embodied Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in the physical world.
