EP.56 HUMANOIDS THAT CAN DO FRONTFLIPS
An update on Boston Dynamics robot, a new Indian humanoid company, massage robots company got new funding & much more...
A humanoid from China that can frontflip 🤹🏼♀️
Chinese robotics startup EngineAI has unveiled the PM01, the first humanoid robot capable of performing a frontflip.
Standing at 1.38 meters and weighing 88 pounds, the robot features 24 degrees of freedom, including 12 in its joint motors for enhanced flexibility. Its lightweight frame and lower center of mass make it well-suited for complex movements like frontflips, which are typically harder to execute than backflips.
EngineAI has integrated AI-driven visual perception into the PM01, using an Intel RealSense depth camera alongside NVIDIA Jetson Orin and Intel N97 CPUs.
The PM01 joins a growing field of agile humanoids. The famous Atlas from Boston Dynamics was the first to execute a backflip in 2017, while Unitree’s H1 became the first fully electric humanoid to achieve the feat in 2024. Interestingly, Shenzhen’s police department is reportedly testing the robot for AI-assisted law enforcement applications.
Parcel sorter deployment accelerated by RobotStudio 👾
Finland’s national postal service, Posti, sought to improve parcel sorting efficiency and turned to Roboco, ABB Robotics, and AI lab AMD Silo AI. By leveraging ABB’s RobotStudio software, the team developed and tested an automated sorting solution in a virtual environment, significantly reducing development time.
RobotStudio enabled engineers to test interactions between robots, application software, and AI-driven 3D vision systems before deploying physical equipment. Using RobotStudio Cloud, project partners collaborated remotely, ensuring real-time updates and seamless integration.
By simulating and refining the system virtually, Posti’s robotic sorting solution was developed several months faster than traditional methods. The final deployment is 99% aligned with the virtual model, demonstrating the power of digital testing in streamlining automation projects.
🦾 Feature sponsorship with ABB Robotics
Update on the Atlas humanoid 🦾
Boston Dynamics is taking a practical approach to humanoid robotics by focusing on part sequencing in automotive manufacturing. Partnering with Hyundai, the company is deploying Atlas to automate a complex task—organizing parts into the correct sequence for assembly lines.
Part sequencing involves handling thousands of different parts, each with unique sizes, shapes, and weights. Atlas must autonomously pick, carry, and place items while adapting to real-world challenges like limited visibility, changing environments, and irregular storage conditions.
The task also demands advanced behavior creation, requiring reinforcement learning and foundation models to handle unexpected failures and variations. By automating part sequencing, Atlas aims to improve efficiency, reduce repetitive strain injuries, and allow workers to focus on higher-value tasks.
Meme of the week 🤖
The world before there were autonomous robots mowing grass.
India joins the humanoid race 🇮🇳
Indian startup Muks Robotics has introduced its Spaceo humanoid robots, claiming they are powered by artificial general intelligence (AGI). The Pune-based company showcased two models—Spaceo Pro and Spaceo M1.
Spaceo Pro is an industrial humanoid designed for heavy-duty tasks, with a 200 kg payload capacity and 7 degrees of freedom (DoF) in each arm, capable of lifting up to 10 kg. The wheeled robot is built for adaptability and strength in industrial settings. Meanwhile, Spaceo M1 is a social humanoid that can communicate in multiple languages and engage in extended conversations.
The robots operate using Muks’ FusionMax AGI, an offline AI system integrating vision, voice, and language capabilities. They learn independently through supervised learning, adapting to new environments without constant reprogramming.
Massage robots company gets $83 million in funding 💸
Aescape has raised $83 million in strategic funding to expand its AI-powered robotic massage technology. This latest investment brings the company’s total funding to $128 million, allowing it to scale operations, enter new markets, and strengthen partnerships in hospitality, fitness, professional sports, and wellness.
Founded in 2017, Aescape offers fully autonomous, customizable massages through its Aertable system. Using AI and sensors, it maps muscle structures, capturing 1.2 million unique data points to create a personalized experience. The massage is delivered via Aerpoints, heated robotic end effectors designed to replicate human touch techniques.
Aescape first launched commercially with Equinox in select New York locations, where strong demand has led to an expansion to 60 locations nationwide. The company has also partnered with Four Seasons, Marriott, and Ritz-Carlton properties.
The funding round was led by Valor Equity Partners, an early investor in Tesla and SpaceX. Existing backers, including Alumni Ventures and NBA star Kevin Love, also participated.
