On March 2, Figure, an American start-up, announced its first product: the humanoid robot 01. It is currently a prototype, as proven by the rendering of the video posted online by the ‘business. But according to the intentions of its designers, the robot, a versatile device, will be able to think and above all solve the problem of labor shortage and contribute to the elimination of dangerous and unskilled jobs. At least that's what the engineers hope.
The figure and its birth
The startup's robotics team is exceptionally skilled and led by CTO Jerry Pratt. His CV is not to be underestimated, having spent 20 years in Florida at IHMC. Leading the Florida Institute for Human and Mechanical Cognition team, he was runner-up in the DARPA Robotics Challenge finals.
But that's not all: Pratt has contributed to DRC Atlas (a Boston Dynamics prototype for competition), NASA's Valkyrie and, most recently, Nadia. Over the years, IHMC has established itself as a leader in the design and control of robots.
Brett Adcock founded Figure in 2022 and has hired over 40 engineers from different companies in the industry over the past year. IHMC and Boston Dynamics, already mentioned, but also companies like Tesla, Waymo and Google X. Not the latest in humanoid robots therefore, which makes Figure one of the best in its field, according to the CEO.
The characteristics of the 01 model and the intentions of the Californian company
Figure's reason for building a humanoid robot could be described as purely commercial and utilitarian. In fact, the technical director himself states that he and his team are not trying to push the limits of performance and break records. Instead, they intend to build a robot together with stable performance and robust design. For the moment, they will therefore not focus on the acrobatics performed by Boston Dynamics with Atlas.
While keeping the humanoid form light and agile enough, the designers want to see the 01 alongside humans. In particular, like many other companies in the same field, Figure approaches the market with warehouses as the obvious entry point.
Currently, engineers' experience suggests that there will always be a more specialized robot capable of performing a specific task more efficiently. And given the desire to build a robot with legs, which presents as many construction difficulties as a robot without legs, it is better to make it versatile. But still in a human workspace, that's what the Californian company thinks.
As for the specifications, the engineers haven't said too much, especially because, it bears repeating, this is only a rendering and a concept at the moment. The final robot, however, will be fully electric, measure 1.6 meters tall, weigh 60 kilograms and have a payload of 20 kg. The battery will last for five hours on a single charge.
The objectives of Figure
On the official website, on the Master Plan page, it clearly states “Expand human capabilities through advanced artificial intelligence”. It also reads: “Figure's goal: to develop generic humanoids that will have a positive impact on humanity and create a better life for future generations.”
The company goes on to say, however, that it recognizes that it will take decades, a team dedicated to the cause, billions of dollars invested and engineering innovation. The risk is certainly high, as are the chances of failure. Not without concluding that if successful, Figure could become the largest company on the planet with a positive impact on humanity.
In short, on the California side, we are not joking, and beyond the announced mission, there is a strong desire to position itself on the market, possibly first. But nothing concrete for the moment, let's hope that this does not result in promises that are difficult to keep, as is often the case in robotics.