Humanoid
"Pioneering humanoid robots for the future"
UK startup building commercially scalable, general-purpose humanoid robots via its KinetIQ VLM/VLA framework, offered as RaaS.
Humanoid (legal entity SKL Robotics Ltd.) is a London-based robotics and AI developer building commercially scalable, safe, and general-purpose humanoid robots. Founded in 2024 by serial entrepreneur Artem Sokolov, the company has grown to over 200 engineers and researchers across offices in London, Boston, and Vancouver, and is backed by $50 million in founder-led capital.
Its flagship platform, HMND 01, is a modular humanoid robot powered by the company's proprietary KinetIQ framework, which is built on vision-language models (VLM) and vision-language-action (VLA) models for AI-driven, end-to-end reasoning. HMND 01 comes in two variants: a wheeled industrial mobile manipulator and a bipedal research platform. The robot features 29 active degrees of freedom (excluding end-effectors), and its arms can be fitted with either a 12-DoF five-fingered dexterous hand or a 1-DoF parallel gripper. Humanoid developed the first HMND 01 Alpha mobile manipulator in roughly seven months and has demonstrated the system working alongside people for industrial tasks such as logistics and manufacturing. The company collaborates with NVIDIA on accelerated robotics development. Rather than selling robots outright, Humanoid offers its systems through a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) commercial model, targeting labor-constrained industrial environments.
The company positions itself to put the United Kingdom at the forefront of humanoid robotics innovation.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Company Facts
Founded
2024
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Europe
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
Keywords
- Humanoid
- VLA model
- KinetIQ
- dexterous hand
- bipedal robot
- general-purpose robot
- Manufacturer
- RaaS
- Mobile Manipulator
- Manufacturing
Galbot's Humanoid Robot Excels in Tennis at World Humanoid Robot Games
At the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Galbot's humanoid robot showcased its skills in a tennis match against human players. The event highlighted the robot's ability to perform quick movements and return shots, although it faced challenges such as balance issues, which led to a moment of falling during play. This demonstration is significant as it marks what Galbot claims to be the world's first human-robot tennis match, emphasizing the advancements and limitations of humanoid robots in sports. The event featured over 600 teams and 2,056 robots competing in various sports, illustrating the growing interest and development in humanoid robotics. Looking ahead, the games included new competitions like table tennis and kickboxing, alongside expanded scenario-based events. Observers should note the ongoing challenges in robot autonomy and balance, as these factors will influence future developments in humanoid robotics and their applications in various sectors.
Humanoid Robot Sets New 100m Record, Surpassing Usain Bolt in Beijing
At the opening ceremony of the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a humanoid robot completed a 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds. This remarkable feat surpassed Usain Bolt's previous world record of 9.58 seconds, as reported by Xinhua News Agency. The achievement is significant as it showcases advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence, particularly in the realm of humanoid robotics. Beating a record held by one of the fastest humans highlights the potential of robotic technology in competitive environments. Looking ahead, the implications of this event may influence future developments in robotics, particularly in sports and performance applications. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Chinese Humanoid Robots Break Human Records in 100m Sprint and High Jump at Beijing Games
On the opening day of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Chinese humanoid robots achieved remarkable feats by breaking human records. Notably, they surpassed Usain Bolt's world record in the 100-meter sprint, showcasing their advanced capabilities. This achievement is significant as it highlights the rapid advancements in robotics technology, particularly in humanoid design and performance. The ability of these robots to outperform human athletes in such competitive events underscores the potential for robotics in various applications, including sports and entertainment. Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how these developments influence future competitions and the evolution of humanoid robotics. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Robotics
Huaweike Unveils Advanced Tactile Sensors at WRC 2026 to Enhance Robotics
On August 19, 2026, the World Robot Conference opened in Beijing, where Wuhan Huaweike Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. launched its Wanxiang series of tactile sensors. The event highlighted the industry's growing maturity in algorithms and visual perception, while the lack of tactile data remains a significant barrier to practical applications in robotics. The advancements in embodied intelligence over the past two years have been notable, with humanoid robots achieving over 20 degrees of freedom and costs reduced to under 100,000 yuan. However, challenges persist in fine manipulation tasks, particularly in the 'grasping' action, where robots often fail due to insufficient tactile feedback. Traditional sensors typically have an accuracy of 5% FS, which is inadequate for delicate operations. The Wanxiang series boasts an impressive accuracy of 1% FS and a minimum trigger force of 0.01N, setting a new standard for tactile data quality. This enhancement allows for the detection of minute weight changes, significantly improving the granularity of data collected. Huaweike's data collection gloves and simulation tools aim to address the efficiency of large-scale tactile data acquisition, reducing costs by 90% and increasing efficiency tenfold, which is crucial for training advanced robotic models.
Tactile Sensors Data Collection Robotics AI Industrial Automation
Chinese Robotics Industry Shifts Focus from Humanoid Designs to Practical Applications
The robotics industry is witnessing a transition from showcasing humanoid robots to practical deployments. At Unitree Robotics' booth, bipedal robots demonstrated impressive skills in activities like table tennis and combat, showcasing advancements in speed and balance. However, other exhibitors highlighted robots that efficiently sorted parcels and moved materials, emphasizing functionality over form. This shift is significant as it reflects a growing preference for robots that can perform specific tasks effectively. Yang Li, a senior engineer at X Square Robot, questioned the necessity of bipedal designs, noting that their two-armed WALL-B model sorted 1,816 packages in a controlled test, outperforming the bipedal Figure 03 robot from Figure AI, which managed 1,248 parcels per hour. This trend indicates a move towards more practical robotic solutions in various industries. Looking ahead, the focus on efficiency and task-oriented designs is likely to continue shaping the robotics landscape. With companies like AI2 Robotics showcasing versatile wheeled robots capable of making coffee and ice cream, the industry may prioritize robots that can adapt to different functions over traditional humanoid forms. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
X-Humanoid's Robot Breaks Usain Bolt's 100-Meter Sprint Record in Beijing
At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China's X-Humanoid showcased a humanoid robot that completed a 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's previous record of 9.58 seconds set in 2009. This achievement highlights the advancements in robotics and the competitive spirit of the event, which featured over 2,000 humanoid robots. The significance of this milestone lies in China's growing leadership in humanoid robot development, as the event aims to demonstrate the country's rapid technological progress. The successful sprint and high jump records, alongside the participation of numerous robots, underscore the potential of robotics in various applications, despite some failures during the competitions. Looking ahead, the event reflects China's ambition in robotics, but experts caution that while impressive, the technology is still primarily used for demonstrations. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
RealBOT Demonstrates Functional Robotics at the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games Opening Ceremony
On August 22, the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games opened at the National Speed Skating Oval, featuring 51 events and 1,301 matches with 666 teams from 16 countries and 2,056 robots. This year's competition has doubled in scale compared to the inaugural event. RealBOT, a company focused on practical robotics, showcased its capabilities during the opening ceremony, participating in the 'Smart Chip Lighting' ceremony and performing a flower arrangement act. The RealBOT S2 wheeled humanoid robot represented the Bazhong station in Sichuan, lifting the energy token 'paddle' during the lighting ceremony. RealBOT's founder and CEO, Zheng Suibing, attended the event, highlighting the company's commitment to demonstrating the practical abilities of robots. Earlier this year, the RealBOT robot acted as a 'robot chef' in Xinjiang, completing various challenging tasks in a real kitchen environment. RealBOT's robots are designed for long-term, high-intensity operations, certified for reliability with a 50,000-hour mean time between failures. The robots' precision and adaptability were showcased in the flower arrangement performance, achieving ±0.05mm positioning accuracy. RealBOT also participated in six scenario competitions, validating the robots' capabilities in emergency response, public service, retail, and industrial applications. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Humanoid Robots Robotics Technology AI Automation
ROBOTTODAY WEEKLY August 17 – 21, 2026
This week in robotics: Unitree surges 629% in its Shanghai STAR Market debut at a $66 billion valuation, Nevada approves 7,000 robotaxis, Amazon Prime Air expands to nearly 500 US cities, and Beijing's World Robot Conference marks the industry's pivot from spectacle to scale. August 17–21, 2026.
2026 World Humanoid Robot Games Kick Off in Beijing with 666 Competing Teams
The 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games have officially commenced in Beijing, featuring 666 teams from various countries. These teams are showcasing over 2,000 humanoid robots in a series of competitions designed to highlight advancements in robotics. This event is significant as it brings together a diverse range of participants, fostering innovation and collaboration in the field of humanoid robotics. The competition serves as a platform for engineers and developers to demonstrate their latest technologies and designs, potentially influencing future developments in the industry. As the games progress, observers should pay attention to the emerging trends in humanoid robot capabilities and the performance of different teams. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Tsinghua University Team Unveils Soccer-Playing Humanoid Robot in Science Robotics
On August 19, a team led by Professor Zhao Mingguo from Tsinghua University's Department of Automation published a paper in Science Robotics titled "Learning Vision-Driven Reactive Soccer Skills for Humanoid Robots." The research introduces a unified perception-motion reinforcement learning framework that enables a humanoid robot, known as Booster, to autonomously locate and kick a soccer ball without relying on external positioning or motion capture systems. This development is significant as it addresses the challenges of dynamic environments where visual perception is often unreliable. Traditional robotic soccer systems typically follow a modular pipeline, which can amplify errors due to perception noise and delays. The new framework allows the robot to make accurate movements even under imperfect visual conditions, marking a notable advancement in the field of robotics. Looking ahead, the implications of this research could extend to various applications in robotics, particularly in environments where visual feedback is compromised. The paper's publication in a prestigious journal underscores its importance, and the team’s innovative approach may pave the way for future developments in humanoid robotics and autonomous systems. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Humanoid Robots Reinforcement Learning Robotics Research AI Autonomous Systems
Panshi Embodied Lab Launches at WRC 2026 to Set Standards for Humanoid Robots
The Panshi Embodied Lab was officially launched at the World Robot Conference 2026, marking a significant step in the development of humanoid robots in China. The lab aims to provide a public service platform for testing and evaluating humanoid robots, addressing challenges such as weak core technologies and insufficient high-value applications. This initiative is crucial as the humanoid robot industry is projected to produce over 100,000 units by 2026, up from 20,000 in 2025. However, many products remain in the research and testing phases, highlighting the need for robust standards and evaluation processes to ensure quality and safety in the industry. Looking ahead, the lab will focus on developing testing capabilities for components and whole robots, as well as creating a collaborative testing environment. The first phase of testing has already been completed, and further developments are expected, including the establishment of specialized testing labs and ongoing standard verification work.
Humanoid Robots Robot Testing Standards Industrial Automation AI Robotics
ROBOTTODAY Weekly August 10 – 14, 2026
Your weekly robotics briefing: Unitree's IPO is swamped by retail demand, the US puts 100% tariffs on imported drones, LG and Nvidia commit to a 2027 humanoid, and Uber and Pony.ai bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly August 3 – 7, 2026
This week in robotics: Unitree prices its Shanghai STAR Market IPO with DeepSeek taking a strategic stake, the FCC expands its foreign-robot ban as China threatens retaliation, BMW commits to Figure 03 humanoids, and Zoox goes paid in Las Vegas. August 3–7, 2026.
World Robot Conference 2026 Opens in Beijing Aug. 19–23, Days After Unitree's $9B IPO
WRC 2026 opens August 19 in Beijing with 300+ exhibitors, a first-ever SOE pavilion and a new Procurement Day, days after Unitree priced China's first mainland-listed humanoid robot IPO at a $9.04 billion valuation.
WAIC Review 1/4: Embodied AI's Industrialization Wave: Financing Data, Unit Economics, and a Widening Split
China's embodied AI sector raised $12.5B in H1 2026, but WAIC 2026 speakers detailed ROI demands, power bottlenecks, and the mass-production-to-sales gap.
WAIC Review 4/4: From Port AGVs to Hospital Night Shifts: What WAIC 2026 Reveals About Real Robot Deployments
From 530+ AGVs at a Singapore port to robots on Apple's line, WAIC 2026 speakers shared concrete data on where embodied AI robots are actually working today.
WAIC Review 2/4: World Models vs. VLA: Robotics' Next 'ChatGPT Moment'
At WAIC 2026, world-model and VLA camps staked rival paths to generalist robots; Zhiyuan, SenseTime and NVIDIA predict a robot 'ChatGPT moment' in 2-5 years.
WAIC Review 3/4: What Scientists and Skeptics Really Think About Embodied AI: The Sober Voices at WAIC 2026
UCL and HKUST researchers, plus robotics CEOs, challenged embodied AI hype at WAIC 2026, citing generalization limits and no third-party evaluation standard.
Pittsburgh Robotics & AI Discovery Day 2026
Pittsburgh Robotics Network's free Robotics & AI Discovery Day returns Sept 16, 2026 to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center — 250+ exhibitors and a new Defense Pavilion.
ROBOTTODAY Weekly July 27 – 31, 2026
Your weekly robotics briefing: the US bans imports of Chinese humanoid robots, Google DeepMind unveils Gemini Robotics 2, Unitree pushes toward its Shanghai IPO, and Amazon's Zoox wins approval for paid robotaxi rides.
