Figure is gearing up to introduce its humanoid robots to households sooner than anticipated. On Thursday, CEO Brett Adcock announced that the robotics startup based in the Bay Area will commence “alpha testing” of its Figure 02 robot in home environments, with a launch set for late 2025. This accelerated timeline is attributed to the company’s generalist Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model, known as Helix.
Adcock’s remarks follow a week after Figure unveiled its machine learning platform, Helix, which is designed to integrate visual data and natural language inputs to expedite the process of the system acquiring new skills. Earlier this month, the company disclosed that it was discontinuing its much-publicized collaboration with OpenAI in favor of developing its proprietary AI models like Helix.
Figure has long had plans for integrating its robots into homes. During a recent visit to the company’s South Bay offices, Adcock provided TechCrunch with a glimpse of preliminary home tests conducted in a lab environment. The recent announcement of Helix offered further insight into these initiatives, featuring videos of robots engaged in various domestic tasks such as food preparation. Helix aims to coordinate two robots working collaboratively on a single task.
However, like many of its competitors and similar to rebellious teenagers, Figure has placed less emphasis on household chores. Instead, the focus has shifted towards more profitable industrial applications. In early 2024, the company revealed that it is testing its humanoid systems at a BMW facility in South Carolina. Industrial sites like factories and warehouses are seen as ideal for initial trials and deployment due to their structured, safer environments, with companies like BMW keen to invest in testing initiatives.
Other humanoid robotics companies, including Apptronik and Tesla, have shown interest in introducing these systems into residential settings. In addition to handling various household chores, robots are increasingly viewed as a solution to support aging populations in regions like the U.S. and Japan, allowing seniors to maintain their independence outside of care facilities.
Norwegian startup 1X is among the few firms that have focused on home applications, but the path is fraught with challenges. Beyond pricing concerns, homes exhibit significant variability, with clutter, uneven lighting, diverse flooring, stairs, and often pets and children complicating the environment.
Although Figure’s plans for 2025 remain somewhat vague, the term “alpha” indicates that home testing will likely remain in its infancy for the duration of the year.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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