- Wandercraft, a French company known for medical exoskeletons, has created a new humanoid robot called Calvin 40.
- Calvin 40 was built in 40 days and is already being tested in industrial settings like factories.
- The robot skips human features like a head and hands, instead using padded grippers for practical, hazardous tasks.
- Calvin 40 can carry up to 88 pounds, nearly twice the capacity of some competing robots.
- The robot’s design and technology stem from Wandercraft’s experience in exoskeleton robotics.
Wandercraft, a robotics company from France, has launched Calvin 40, a new humanoid robot built in just 40 days. The robot is currently being tested in industrial environments to perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans.
Calvin 40 is based on technology developed for the company’s exoskeletons, which recently gained attention by enabling a paraplegic man to walk at the 2024 Olympics. According to an interview with CEO Matthieu Masselin, using their existing technology made the transition to humanoid robots fast and efficient.
The robot avoids human-like features such as a head or hands. Instead, it uses padded arms with flat, circular grippers to move boxes and crates. Masselin explained, “We’re not focused on adding a head, because it doesn’t help with navigation, the same goes for hands, hands are very fragile. We believe we have a humanoid robot that can carry the heaviest payload.” The robot’s design also avoids the “uncanny valley” effect, a sense of discomfort people may feel when robots appear almost human.
Unlike other robots targeting personal assistance or social interaction, Calvin 40 is built for physical labor in places designed for people, like factories. Masselin said, “So many environments are built for the human form that it’s difficult to address all needs without mimicking it.”
Calvin 40’s lift capacity is 88 pounds, about double what robots like Tesla’s Optimus or Figure AI’s Figure 02 can manage. This strength comes from technology originally designed to help exoskeletons carry people weighing up to 220 pounds. The robot is being tested by French car manufacturer Renault Group, but there is no listed price yet.
The global market for humanoid robots is projected to reach $38 billion by 2035, according to a February 2024 report from Goldman Sachs. Calvin 40 aims to address labor shortages and provide safer solutions for hazardous jobs, allowing people to focus on skilled work.
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