A humanoid robot with over 1,000 artificial muscles, that will reportedly be able to learn to perform household tasks by copying humans as well as giving “witty dialogue”, is set to become available to pre-order in 2025.
Poland-based Clone Robotics is developing the Clone Alpha robot, which looks a bit like a naked, bright white or dark black-skinned androgynous human but has a smooth, featureless face in the promotional images.
The Clone Alpha does not appear to have genitals, but does have a six-pack muscle tone on its torso and rather well-defined buttocks. There’s no suggestion that the robot is designed for more intimate relations with humans beyond shaking hands or chatting, but its makers suggest that it will be able to learn pretty much any human movement by copying its owner.
“Do it yourself once. Clone will do it forever,” the company says. The firm suggests tasks including vacuuming, pouring drinks, making sandwiches and shaking hands with your friends.
While many companies, including the rapidly plummeting in value Tesla, are developing humanoid robots, the Clone Alpha stands out by having a pressure-based muscle system instead of being reliant on electric motor actuators. The robot’s artificial muscles are made from mesh tubes and balloons that contract and expand when hydraulic fluid fills them or is emptied from them. The robot also has a “heart” that pushes fluid around its body.
Clone Robotics calls this artificial muscle technology Myofiber, and claims that it allows the robot to make more complex hand movements than other robots. Footage on the company’s site shows robot hands making complex clasping and holding movements and, somewhat worryingly, holding a drill and a pair of scissors.
The robot has four depth cameras in its head, plus sensors to track its joint positions and pressure sensors giving force feedback.
The company claims that the robot will feel as “plush as a stuffed animal” and will walk naturally, like a human. However, a recent definitely-not-at-all-terrifying video-of-a-disembodied-head-and-torso-with-no-eyes (see above) showing the robot’s movements suggests that it has a way to go before it can stroll around with ease.
The Clone Alpha may not have a face, but is likely to feature AI chatbot technology, with Clone Robotics saying it will represent the “next phase of human-computer interaction”.
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