Robotics Weekly: Gatsby's Humanoid Service, XPENG Robotaxis, and Linkerbot's IPO

Robotics Weekly: Gatsby's Humanoid Service, XPENG Robotaxis, and Linkerbot's IPO

This week's digest covers the launch of Gatsby's humanoid cleaning service in San Francisco, ETH Zürich's new four-armed space robot, and XPENG's mass production of L4 robotaxis. We also track Linkerbot's potential $6B IPO and major industry updates from Hyundai, Figure AI, and Faraday Future.

Humanoid Robotics & Services

Gatsby Launches Humanoid Cleaning Service

San Francisco startup Gatsby has introduced an on-demand cleaning service that utilizes Unitree G1 humanoids to perform household chores. Available for a flat rate of $150 per visit, the service is currently piloting in San Francisco, with plans for expansion. Backed by NVIDIA’s Inception program and Entrepreneurs First, Gatsby aims to position itself as a consumer distribution layer for robotics. The service competes directly with human cleaning providers and single-task household robots. The long-term viability of this model remains to be seen, as it depends on the company's ability to minimize operational costs and failure rates in real-world home environments.

ETH Zürich Unveils HELIOS Space Humanoid

ETH Zürich has introduced HELIOS, a four-armed humanoid robot specifically engineered for zero-gravity environments. Developed by the Orbit Robotics focus project, the robot features a skeletal chassis and cable-driven pulleys, designed to assist astronauts with tasks like grabbing, bracing, and assembling structures in orbit. Unlike many space-bound robots that are retrofitted Earth designs, HELIOS is built from the ground up for zero-gravity operations. This development highlights a growing trend in space robotics, where institutions are prioritizing specialized hardware to handle dangerous orbital tasks.

Hyundai and Figure AI Advance Humanoid Deployment

Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to deploy over 25,000 Boston Dynamics Atlas robots across its U.S. manufacturing plants by 2028, with production capacity ramping up to 30,000 units annually. Simultaneously, Figure AI’s Figure 03 humanoids have reached a milestone in a live-streamed warehouse operation, having autonomously sorted over 230,000 packages. These developments signal a significant shift toward the large-scale industrial integration of humanoid robots, moving beyond prototypes into active, high-volume operational roles.

Autonomous Systems

XPENG Begins Mass Production of L4 Robotaxis

XPENG has officially commenced mass production of its L4 autonomous taxi, built on the company's proprietary GX platform. The vehicle is equipped with four Turing AI chips, delivering 3,000 TOPS of computing power, and utilizes the VLA 2.0 end-to-end vision model without the need for LiDAR or HD maps. XPENG plans to launch paid pilot services in late 2026, with fully driverless operations targeted for 2027. This move positions XPENG as a significant competitor in the autonomous vehicle space, integrating its in-house AI stack directly into its commercial vehicle lineup.

Business & Industry

Linkerbot Eyes $6B Valuation in Hong Kong IPO

Chinese robotic hand manufacturer Linkerbot is reportedly considering a Hong Kong IPO that could value the company at approximately $6 billion, aiming to double its recent $3 billion valuation. The company claims to hold over 80% of the global market for high-degree-of-freedom (DoF) robotic hands, having shipped over 10,000 units. By focusing on the gripper layer, Linkerbot has established itself as a critical component supplier for the broader robotics ecosystem, distinguishing itself from competitors like Tesla and Figure who are developing proprietary hand systems.