Norwegian robotics startup 1X has recently launched its latest product, NEO Beta, a humanoid robot designed specifically for home environments. The company has released two videos showcasing the functionality of this pre-production model.
The first video shows NEO assisting a woman in retrieving and handing her a backpack, completing the task before she leaves. The second video demonstrates the robot unloading glasses in the kitchen and delicately handling eggs.
These demonstrations not only showcase the tasks performed by NEO, but also its working style - quiet, efficient, and with human-like dexterity. In fact, some people mistakenly believe that the robot in the videos is portrayed by a person wearing a costume.
Standing at 5.41 feet tall and weighing only 66 pounds, NEO is designed to seamlessly integrate into human living spaces. It employs a muscle-mimicking anatomical structure, replacing traditional rigid hydraulic systems, allowing it to elegantly perform intricate tasks. From handling fragile glassware to lifting objects weighing up to 44 pounds, NEO demonstrates its versatility in line with its technical specifications, including a walking speed of 2.5 miles per hour and a jogging speed of 7.5 miles per hour.
It is worth noting that NEO does not emit sound in the demonstration videos, but can intuitively respond through human gestures, body language, and voice commands. This non-verbal communication is crucial for humans, as they often convey intentions through subtle movements such as nodding or eye contact, which NEO can recognize and act upon. By mimicking human behavioral patterns, NEO bridges the interaction gap between humans and machines, making the process of interaction feel natural and seamless.
NEO's nearly silent operation is another engineering achievement. Even during complex movements, the robot can maintain a near-silent state, in stark contrast to the noisy actuators of other popular models such as Boston Dynamics' Electric Atlas. This design aims to make the robot more closely resemble the atmosphere of a home.
NEO's five-fingered hand design provides exceptional flexibility, allowing it to interact with objects of various sizes and fragility, showcasing a wide range of fine motor skills. Whether carefully placing a glass into a cabinet or picking up a backpack, NEO can handle each task with precision, demonstrating a deep understanding of object physics and handling requirements.
NEO's capabilities are driven by a complex artificial intelligence system called "Embodied Intelligence," which is integrated into its physical form, allowing it to continuously learn and adapt from its environment. Built upon its predecessor, EVE, which demonstrated fully autonomous navigation in an office environment earlier this year, NEO incorporates the experiences of EVE into its design, making it more efficient in executing tasks and better serving human users with each interaction.
Bernt Børnich, CEO of 1X, emphasizes that safety is at the core of NEO's design. This safety focus gives the company confidence to deploy NEO for real-world testing and feedback collection in homes, which is a crucial step in perfecting the technology.
In January of this year, 1X successfully completed a Series B funding round of $100 million, with investors including OpenAI, Tiger Global, and EQT Ventures. This funding enables 1X to accelerate production and market penetration, with the goal of making NEO a common device in households worldwide.
NEO's debut comes at a time of intense innovation and competition in the field of humanoid robots. Recent developments from Chinese startups such as Astribot, Unitree, and Zhiyuan, as well as established companies like Boston Dynamics, Tesla, and Figure 1, have all showcased their progress in humanoid robotics. Each party is vying to become the first to bring safe and practical humanoid robots into homes and workplaces. With its advanced features, intuitive interaction, and nearly silent operation, NEO has become another strong competitor in this increasingly crowded market.
As 1X improves NEO through real-world testing, they are not just developing another robot, but potentially reshaping our daily interaction with technology.
