Intel Capital, one of Intel’s investment arm, has invested $9 million in Figure AI Inc, a San Francisco startup that is working on building a humanoid robot for use in warehouses. This information comes right after a $70 million investment round that Figure announced in May. It was attended by several investors, including founder and CEO Brett Adcock.

One of the main goals of Figure AI Inc is to create the world’s first commercially viable autonomous humanoid robot. The company released renderings of its first prototype, a system called Figure 01, in March as it exited Stealth Mode.

Figure 01 should be 1.58 meters tall and weigh about 59 kilograms. If all goes according to plan, it will be able to carry a 40-pound payload. Figure engineers are aiming for a five-hour battery life for the system.

The robot is equipped with 2000 batteries, built-in 5G and Wi-Fi.

The robot prototype, which Rhys detailed a few months ago, indicates that it is equipped with 2,170 compact batteries. This means they are capable of powering not only Figure 01’s engines, but also the onboard sensor array it uses to monitor its surroundings.

As if that weren’t enough, the built-in 5G and Wi-Fi networking hardware will allow the robot to communicate with other Internet-connected devices, such as autonomous machines with which it shares a workspace.

Figure currently relies heavily on off-the-shelf robot components to build its systems. However, the startup runs a machine shop at its Sunnyvale, California office that can make parts to order. The office also houses a miniature warehouse that Figure engineers can use to test the robot’s capabilities in a realistic environment.

The startup said they also envision the Figure 01 being used in warehouses such as e-commerce fulfillment centers. The startup believes that in the long term, the system can find application in other places, such as retail outlets or a factory.

In March, Figure said it expects its prototype system to start “taking its first steps” within a month. At that time, the startup was already working on the second iteration of the prototype.

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Via: Extremtech

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