One such U.S. company making exciting developments in humanoid robots is Figure. For one, Figure has incorporated artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning to make its robots appear more lifelike when they walk. Then, their gaits looked completely unnatural and robotic. The company’s actions over the past several months represent a big step toward its ambitious vision of one day deploying fleets of humanoid robots on factory floors.
Engineers at Figure have implemented reinforcement learning by placing thousands of virtual robots in a physics simulator designed to replicate various terrains. This approach leaned heavily on optimizing the gait of the robots. As a consequence, their gaits now look just like ours. The “Learned Natural Walking” model, developed through this technique, has been successfully uploaded to the company’s Figure 02 humanoid robot.
“We’re committed to extending our learned policy to handle every human-like scenario the robot might face in the real world.” – company representatives
In 2024, Figure’s humanoid robots proved their industrial potential as collaborative workers in a BMW factory, showcasing their compatibility with industrial and commercial applications. The company reportedly plans to scale up production of the robots this year, extending their lead in the competitive industry of humanoid robots. These robots are engineered to have jaw dropping capabilities. They mimic human appearance and movement, so they’re able to slide right into factory environments.
We’re excited to share the news that Figure’s humanoid robots are officially going to be commercialized. This strategic acquisition allows the company to compete with top-tier robotics companies such as Apptronik and Agility Robotics. Figure was just getting started with the human-like quality of its robots. Make no mistake, the aim is to make a deep inroad into the budding market for humanoid robotics.
