Robotics Weekly: Tuesday Labs' Voxel, SoftBank's Security Bet, and Waymo's Expansion
This week's digest covers the reservation launch for Tuesday Labs' Voxel robot, SoftBank's potential $18B acquisition of Allied Universal, and Waymo's plan to scale its fleet to 20,000 vehicles by 2027. We also report on Unitree's H2-X humanoid, Tesla's production ramp for Optimus, and biometric privacy lawsuits facing delivery robot operators.
Podcast В· 3 min
Tuesday Labs Opens Reservations for Voxel Robot
Tuesday Labs, a startup founded by a Boston Dynamics alumnus, has begun accepting $200 refundable deposits for its Voxel home robot. The robot is designed to perform household chores such as tidying rooms, fetching objects, and watering plants, with a projected price of $20,000 and a target delivery date of 2028. The company is leveraging expertise from former Pixar animators to shape the robot's personality. While the project is ambitious, the company acknowledges that the hardware currently requires a significant redesign before it reaches consumers. This development mirrors the strategy of 1X, which previously opened deposits for its Neo robot, highlighting the growing trend of startups attempting to bring general-purpose humanoids into the home.
Unitree Unveils H2-X Humanoid
Unitree has released a promotional video showcasing its new H2-X humanoid robot performing rescue and security tasks, such as hoisting a car and pulling a pedestrian out of traffic. The H2-X is an evolution of the existing H2 platform, with the company claiming an endurance of approximately 8 hours of standing time, compared to 3 hours for the standard model. Despite the impressive demonstration, Unitree has not yet released a price, shipping date, or detailed specification sheet for the X variant. The video raises questions about the robot's autonomy, as it does not clarify whether the actions were performed independently or via teleoperation. This move signals Unitree's intent to pivot from its reputation for agile, dancing robots toward more functional, high-stakes applications.
Plim Robotics Debuts Teleoperated Home Assistant
Munich-based Plim Robotics (formerly Devanthro) has introduced its first home robot, a wheeled assistant capable of autonomous chores and teleoperation. The robot features a 'step-in' mode that allows a remote user to control the machine, seeing through its cameras and speaking through it, with their face displayed on the robot's visor. The unit stands 5'5" tall and runs on Nvidia's Jetson Thor platform. While the company has been testing in homes since 2024, specifically in elderly care, it has yet to announce a price or a public release date. This approach emphasizes the human-in-the-loop model for domestic robotics, aiming to bridge the gap between autonomous capability and the need for human connection.
Tesla Ramps Up Optimus Production
Tesla has officially begun production of its Optimus humanoid robots at its Fremont factory, according to the company's Q3 update. Elon Musk stated that while the production line is still in the early stages of ramping up, the goal is to reach 20,000 robots per week by the end of 2027. The company is currently balancing this production effort with the ongoing development of its AI software, which Musk admits is not yet complete. This marks a significant shift from previous updates, which focused primarily on research and development, indicating that Tesla is moving toward manufacturing scale. The ramp-up is critical for Tesla's long-term strategy, though the company faces significant challenges in achieving these output targets.
Waymo Targets 20,000 Robotaxis by 2027
Waymo is planning a major expansion of its autonomous fleet, aiming to grow from 4,000 vehicles today to 8,000 by the end of 2026, and reaching 20,000 by the end of 2027. This expansion is supported by a recent $5 billion debt raise, which provides the capital necessary to scale operations. The company is also integrating its sixth-generation driver into new purpose-built minivans and has begun testing in Toronto. Scaling to this level requires a massive increase in infrastructure, including depots, charging stations, and remote operator support. This aggressive growth target underscores Waymo's commitment to dominating the robotaxi market as it continues to expand its service area across the United States and internationally.
Delivery Robots Face Biometric Privacy Lawsuits
Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics are facing class-action lawsuits in Chicago alleging that their delivery robots collect biometric data from customers without consent. The lawsuits claim that the robots scan faces and hands during deliveries and retain this data for AI training and third-party sharing, which plaintiffs argue violates Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Both companies have denied the allegations, with Serve Robotics stating that its systems do not identify individuals or create biometric profiles. The outcome of these cases could set a significant legal precedent for how autonomous delivery robots are regulated regarding privacy and data collection, potentially impacting the viability of sidewalk delivery services in the region.
SoftBank in Talks to Acquire Allied Universal
SoftBank is reportedly in early discussions to acquire Allied Universal, the largest security-services company in the United States, in a deal that could be valued at up to $18 billion. Masayoshi Son views the acquisition as a strategic opportunity to integrate SoftBank's robotics technology into Allied Universal's vast network of guard posts, potentially replacing some human staff with autonomous security robots. Allied Universal employs approximately 770,000 people across more than 100 countries, providing a massive potential customer base for future security automation. If completed, this acquisition would represent a major consolidation of physical security and robotics, signaling a long-term bet on the automation of the security industry.
PIPEON Develops Sewer Inspection Robots
European researchers are developing small, wheeled robots designed to navigate and inspect aging sewer networks to prevent costly spills. The project, known as PIPEON, has received approximately $9 million in EU funding through December 2028. These robots utilize cameras, laser mapping, and acoustic sensors to identify defects in pipes that are dangerous for human workers to access. While current prototypes still require manual control via game controllers, the team aims to enable autonomous travel between manholes within 2-3 years. This technology addresses a critical infrastructure need, as the EPA estimates tens of thousands of sewer overflows occur annually in the U.S. alone.