Recently, AI robotics startup Figure has finally made the public release of the world’s first commercially available general-purpose humanoid robot Figure O1, the prototype of which bears a strikingly close resemblance to Tesla’s robot Optimus.

Figure 01 will have the power to acquire new knowledge and skills over time, which enables it to take on more complex tasks and operate in a wider range of environments. It can interact with its environment, which means that it is equipped with sensors and other devices that allow it to perceive and respond to its surroundings. This enables it to perform tasks such as navigating through a warehouse or picking up objects in a manufacturing plant.

The purpose of this humanoid robot is to address labour shortages in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail by providing an efficient and adaptable workforce. By deploying these robots into these sectors, companies can reduce their reliance on human labour, increase productivity, and improve their bottom line.

Meanwhile, at the ‘Tesla Investor Day’ event, chief Elon Musk recently showed a video of Optimus aka Tesla bot which Musk said he is planning to use in Tesla factories and eventually open for public purchase. Optimus was first unveiled to the public in 2021.

Figure’s Founding Story

Founded in 2022 by Brett Adcock, the Founder of electric vertical takeoff and landing company Archer Aviation and online job recruitment platform Vettery with the aim of revamping the robotics sector. According to the chief, millions of jobs are considered risky in today’s workforce, causing unprecedented labour shortages. In order to boost productivity and maintain economic growth, automation is required. The workforce will generate more fairly priced goods and services than ever before thanks to their integration of this technology. 

“We believe general-purpose humanoid robots have far more potential than single-purpose robots, which are currently ubiquitous within the field,” he added. While initially, the activities that Figure’s humanoids would perform will be inflexible and monotonous, he believes that software developments in robot learning will eventually allow tasks to be executed far better than by humans.

As for the future of Figure, Adcock has great confidence in the potential of the technology, claiming that it will impact the most significant industry globally, contributing to research in AI and robotics in the hopes of promoting a positive AI future for humanity.

The team at Figure consists of 40 industry leaders with more than 100 years of collective experience in AI and humanoid technologies, including members of the Boston Dynamics, Tesla, IHMC, GoogleX, Cruise, and Apple SPG professional networks. With 20 years of experience in humanoid technology from IHMC, including his leadership in DARPA’s Humanoid Robotics Competition, Dr Jerry Pratt is Figure’s chief technology officer. The team also has former Apple engineer Michael Rose and Google roboticist Gabe Nelson as chief scientists. The Figure team finished building their full-scale humanoid robot in just six months, and they intend to start testing it soon.

Figure is currently hiring across various sectors. 

Growing Need for Humanoid Robots

With the regular breakthroughs in AI, the market for humanoid robots is expected to experience substantial growth with the market value of humanoid robots estimated to reach $3.9 billion in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 52.1% from 2017 to 2023.  The market for humanoid robots is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 63.5% between 2022 and 2027. Bipedal robots are predicted to have the highest CAGR among all types of humanoid robots during the forecasted period. This growth is mainly attributed to the rapid advancements in the capabilities of humanoid robots and their expanding range of applications.

According to a report by Goldman Sachs, the market for humanoid robots is expected to value $6 billion or more in the next 10 to 15 years, which might help to meet 2% of the world’s need for elderly care by 2035 and 4% of the US manufacturing labour deficit by 2030. The paper also projects a “blue-sky” scenario in which the market could touch $154 billion by 2035 and close up to 53% of the gap for senior carers and anywhere between 48% and 126% of the labour shortfall. There are still obstacles to be solved, such as boosting movement and agility, extending battery life, and lowering production costs.

India’s Big Bets 

India is among the top 15 countries in the world with the highest number of recorded robot installations and has produced some interesting humanoid robots. These include Manav, India’s first 3D-printed humanoid robot that can perform tasks such as walking, talking and dancing by listening to voice commands. HDFC Bank’s IRA and Mitra are customer-service robots designed to assist customers with banking and healthcare-related tasks respectively. Vistara Airlines’ RADA and Kerala police headquarters’ RoboCop are customer-assistance robots that provide information and entertainment options. INDRO is India’s tallest humanoid robot capable of carrying 150 kg of payload, while KEMPA is a customer-assistance robot deployed at Kempegowda International Airport. Finally, AcYut, developed by undergraduate students at BITS Pilani, is India’s first indigenous robot.

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