Clone Robotics unveils synthetic human prototype

Good morning, robotics enthusiasts. Clone Robotics just gave a glimpse of the world’s first synthetic android designed to mimic the human skeletal, muscular, vascular, and nervous structures.

We’re headed into a humanoid-driven future, but the question remains: are we ready for synthetic machines that look, walk, and talk just like us? What do you think?

In today’s robotics rundown:

• The world’s first bipedal musculoskeletal android

• Figure’s Helix AI brain for humanoids

• Chinese automakers pivot to humanoids

• Field AI targeting a $2B valuation

• Quick hits on other major news

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

CLONE ROBOTICS

🤯 The world’s first bipedal musculoskeletal android

The Rundown: American-Polish startup Clone Robotics unveiled Protoclone V1, a groundbreaking synthetic android with skin, muscles, tendons, and veins (that pump water)—sparking both awe and a dose of dystopian fear.

The details:

• This faceless android (currently a prototype) has 200 degrees of freedom, 1,000 myofibers, and 500 sensors to move and work like humans.

• In a 40-second video from Clone, it was seen suspended in a workshop and executing dynamic movements of hands and legs.

• Protoclone is being built using the principles of biomimetics, where it replicates all human soft tissues—with water serving as hydraulic fluid rather than motors.

• Co-founder Dhanush Radhakrishna said the android will start selling this year at a premium, but the price will eventually drop to around $20K.

Why it matters: Radhakrishna hails the Protoclone V1 as “ground zero for the age of androids.” The work is certainly groundbreaking, but it remains to be seen if it would prove handy in dangerous environments where we want machines to move and adapt in ways more than humans can.

FIGURE AI

🧠 Figure’s Helix AI brain for humanoids

The Rundown: Figure AI just unveiled Helix, an AI system that enables humanoid robots to understand speech and reason through problems – bringing us closer to robots that can think and act like humans.

The details:

• Helix allows Figure’s humanoids to adapt to new tasks without additional training or code, allowing the robots to work in diverse environments like homes and warehouses.

• CEO Brett Adcock shared a clip that showed two Helix-equipped robots collaboratively storing unfamiliar groceries, showing real-world adaptability.

• Helix coordinates a 35-DoF action space at 200Hz to control everything from finger movements to end-effector trajectories, head gaze, and torso.

• The architecture of Helix includes two systems: a pre-trained 7B parameter VLM and an 80M parameter visuomotor policy.

Why it matters: With Helix, Figure may have solved one of robotics’ biggest challenges: getting robots to adapt to new situations without specific programming. This breakthrough also likely explains why Figure ended its OpenAI partnership — they’ve developed their own powerful internal AI system.

EV MAKERS

🚘 Chinese automakers pivot to humanoids

The Rundown: Chinese electric vehicle companies like BYD and XPeng – which already use humanoids in their smart factories – are beginning to mass-produce their own specialized humanoid robot models.

The details:

• China-owned GAC Group has developed the GoMate humanoid to install wires on its production line, with plans to begin mass production by 2026.

• EV startup Nio has also partnered with robot maker UBTech while simultaneously forming an in-house R&D team to build humanoids.

• The country is promoting automation through initiatives like the Robotics+ action plan, which aims to double the density of manufacturing robots.

• Currently, China controls 63% of the companies in the world’s supply chain for humanoid components, particularly in actuator parts and rare Earth processing.

Why it matters: With supply chain access and the government’s push, Chinese companies can produce humanoids (and EVs) at much lower prices. Currently, Unitree’s H1 comes at $90K, about half the cost of Boston Dynamics’ Atlas. Similarly, Unitree G1 is priced at $13K as compared to Tesla Optimus’ projected $25K.

FIELD AI

🦄 Field AI targets a $2B valuation

The Rundown: California-based robotics startup Field AI is in talks to raise funds at a massive $2B valuation, a 4x jump from last summer when Nvidia and others valued it at $500M, according to The Information.

The details:

• Field AI is developing advanced AI models to enhance robotic capabilities in industries such as construction and oil and gas.

• Their key technology works as a general-purpose robot brain that enables machines to operate autonomously, without GPS or pre-programmed routes.

• Field’s software works through an external hardware unit compatible with robots from companies like Boston Dynamics and Unitree Robotics.

• It is currently working on a large multimodal model that integrates text, images, voice, and lidar sensor data to improve robotic autonomy.

Why it matters: Field AI’s tech allows robots to operate autonomously in challenging environments, which has applications across multiple sectors. The talks of the next round at such a massive valuation show it’s ready to compete alongside rivals like Skild AI and Physical Intelligence.

QUICK HITS

📰 Everything else in robotics today

MagicLab launched the MagicHand S01, a dexterous hand that can perform precise and complex movements like grasping, gripping, and two-finger movements.

Shenzhen-based UBTech Robotics debuted Una, a humanoid designed to provide “emotional companionship” at the LEAP tech event in Saudi Arabia.

Uber Eats is now using Avride robots to deliver orders in Jersey City, New Jersey – the company is already using robots in 11 cities with plans to expand.

Realbotix Corp. has launched its proprietary AI vision system, which includes face and object recognition, facial tracking, and real-time scene detection capabilities.

UK startup Engineered Arts is debuting its human-faced humanoid Ameca, capable of advanced facial expressions and more nuanced gestures.

Chinese tech firm Baidu is reportedly launching its robotaxi service, Apollo Go, in Dubai, marking the company’s entry into the Middle East.  

Diligent Robotics has reportedly reached a new milestone for its healthcare humanoid Moxi with 1 million deliveries across its entire fleet.

A dozen Tiangong humanoid robots will reportedly line up to run the Beijing half marathon in April in a world first.

The UK’s Robotic Living Lab opened at Manchester Fashion Institute to enable fashion designers to mass-produce more sustainably with cobot arms.

Canadian startup Maple Advanced Robotics won the Hannover Mess Robotics Award for its Autonomous Adaptable Robot System

Unitree Robotics says orders for its humanoid robots “surged” in China after its H1 model performed a dance routine on CCTV to celebrate China’s Lunar New Year.

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See you soon,

Rowan, Jennifer, and Joey—The Rundown’s editorial team