UK-based Humanoid unveils first robot for industrial use

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(Reuters) -Humanoid on Thursday unveiled the UK’s first humanoid robot for industrial use, as the startup hopes to gain a foothold in the growing artificial intelligence robotics industry.

The wheeled robot, dubbed HMND 01 Alpha, will be tested across industrial facilities, gathering insights on whether certain functions need refinement. This will help shape its Beta version, scheduled for launch in the third quarter of next year, Humanoid said.

Humanoid’s robot stands at 220 centimetres tall and features wheels, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 7.2 kilometres per hour and carry payloads of 15 kilograms or more.

Companies, including industry majors like Nvidia and Tesla, are investing in autonomous technologies such as robots to boost manufacturing output, while also handling repetitive, hazardous tasks.

The advent of AI and machine learning has raised interest in robotics, as large language models enable bots to perform human-like tasks, giving rise to well-funded startups that are eager to grab market share.

Humanoid, which will operate on a robots-as-a-service business model, is backed by $50 million in founder-led capital and a team that includes alumni from Apple, Tesla, Google, Boston Dynamics and Nvidia, the company said.

(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)