Sanctuary's touchy-feely humanoid

Good morning, robotics enthusiasts. Sanctuary AI has unveiled a new tactile sensor that gives robots a “delicate but durable sense of touch.”

With this advancement, the company’s Phoenix humanoid can now feel and interact with objects much like humans—bringing us closer to a future where machines can perform nearly any task we can.

In today’s robotics rundown:

• Sanctuary AI’s touch sensors for humanoids

• Dexmate’s powerful transformer robot

• Hyundai and Avride’s robotaxi push

• XoMotion self-balancing exoskeleton

• Quick hits on other robotics news

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

SANCTUARY AI

👉🏼 Sanctuary AI’s touch sensors for humanoids

The Rundown: Canadian robotics company Sanctuary AI just outfitted its eighth-generation humanoid, Phoenix, with new touch sensors that the company says give it a richer sense of touch, critical for achieving human-level dexterity.

The details:

• The tactile sensors allow Phoenix to perform complex, touch-driven tasks with precision and accuracy, including blind picking.

• They ensure Phoenix can “feel” texture and pressure—in stark difference from other humanoids relying on video to interact with their environments.

• Each finger pad on Phoenix has a seven-cell touch sensor sensitive to 5 millinewtons (mN)—humans can typically feel levels closer to 3 mN.

• Eventually, Sanctuary hopes Phoenix will use these abilities to support industries requiring dexterous handwork—like logistics and auto manufacturing.

Why it matters: While other robotics companies focus on vision-language action and bipedal walking, Sanctuary believes that a human-like touch is the key to creating robots that can perform as effectively as humans in any environment. The other company moving in this direction is California-based Proception.

DEXMATE

🤖 Dexmate’s powerful transformer robot

The Rundown: US-based robotics company Dexmate AI launched Vega, a robot with a unique transformer-like design featuring high-payload arms and a body that folds down to fit into the back of an SUV—like a true transformer.

The details:

• Priced at $89,999, Vega uses high-payload arms with dexterous hands to lift objects weighing more than 30 lbs—suitable for light logistical use cases.

• However, the real deal is the foldable torso: the robot can extend to 2.2m for high-reaching tasks and fold whenever needed, going as low as 0.66m.

• It has a wheeled base and advanced sensors, including RGBD/RGB cameras, LiDAR, IMUs, and ultrasonic sensors, to move omnidirectionally.

• Plus, there is support for 36 degrees of freedom and advanced processing with Nvidia's AGX Orin edge computing system.

Why it matters: Vega enters the rapidly evolving robotics landscape as a bold competitor. While its payload capacity doesn’t match industrial robots from KUKA or Fetch, its combination of mobility, versatility, and dexterity sets it apart in the market for general-purpose robots with high-payload arms.

AVRIDE

🚘 Hyundai and Avride’s robotaxi push

The Rundown: Hyundai Motor Company partnered with Avride, an autonomous driving technology startup, to accelerate the development of a self-driving robotaxi fleet—while also exploring robotic delivery services for the future.

The details:

• Avride will expand its fleet of Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles, integrating its self-driving technology into units assembled at Hyundai’s new plant in Georgia.

• These vehicles are expected to debut in Dallas later this year, exclusively through Avride’s robotaxi service on Uber.

• The plan is to expand the fleet to 100 cars by the end of 2025 while exploring other areas of collaboration, including delivery services via Avride robots.  

• Hyundai has been working with Avride since 2019 and has also set up a joint venture with auto supplier Aptiv for deploying autonomous vehicles.

Why it matters: Hyundai and Avride’s aggressive timeline, combined with the dual focus on robotaxis and robot delivery, could rapidly scale the tech—taking it to the masses. The work can further benefit from Hyundai’s multiple AV partnerships, including its joint venture with Aptiv.

HUMAN IN MOTION ROBOTICS

🚶🏽‍♀️XoMotion self-balancing exoskeleton

The Rundown: Vancouver-based Human in Motion Robotics developed XoMotion, a cutting-edge, self-balancing exoskeleton designed to help people with spinal cord injuries walk again—the company will begin FDA clinical trials in April.

The details:

• XoMotion ensures hands-free, omnidirectional bipedal mobility without the need for crutches or walkers, setting it apart from many other exoskeletons.

• The device uses 12 actuators at the joints for natural movement, with an array of sensors for detecting shifting positions and the environment.

• It can also perform ambulatory tasks like standing, walking, sidestepping, climbing stairs, and crouching—without requiring the use of hands.

• After debuting XoMotion at CES in January, the company will begin its clinical trials in late April, testing a version designed for rehab facilities.

Why it matters: XoMotion is currently restricted to clinical and research settings, but personal use is the ultimate goal—with the hope to transform the lives of people with mobility challenges. Other key players pushing this market forward are Wandercraft and ReWalk.

QUICK HITS

📰 Everything else in robotics today

Waymo launched its robotaxi service in Austin exclusively through Uber, with a similar deal expected to roll out in Atlanta soon.

Indian robotics company Muks Robotics unveiled Spaceo, a heavy-duty humanoid with an adjustable height of up to 8 feet and a payload capacity of up to 440 lbs.

Humanoid developer LimX Dynamics raised 500 million yuan ($69.02M) in a Series A round backed by Alibaba Group.

Researchers in China and Hong Kong developed a new AI learning framework that teaches humanoids to stand up from an idle position, regardless of the terrain.

The market for agricultural robotics is expected to surge from $13.4B in 2023 to around $86.5B by 2033.

U.S. researchers have developed a prosthetic hand that can grip everyday objects while carefully conforming and adjusting its grasp to avoid damaging what it is holding.

U.S. researchers also published findings exploring the feasibility of humanoids working in restaurant kitchens to overcome global shortages and ensure quick turnover.

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See you soon,

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