Wandercraft's Leap: From Exoskeletons to Humanoid Robots, Transforming the Future of Mobility

Europe's Robotics Powerhouse Unveils Heavyweight Humanoid for Industry

Wandercraft's Rapid Pivot from Exoskeletons to Autonomous Robots

In a bold move, Paris-based Wandercraft, known for its groundbreaking exoskeleton technology, has set its sights on the burgeoning humanoid robot market. Their latest creation, the Calvin 40, is poised to disrupt the industry with its remarkable capabilities.

Leveraging the expertise gained from developing wearable robotics for the 2024 Olympics, Wandercraft has managed to construct the Calvin 40 in just 40 days. This rapid prototyping was made possible by repurposing core technologies from their exoskeleton designs, allowing the company to skip the experimental phase and focus on deploying the robots in industrial settings.

Designed for Heavy Lifting, Not Human Mimicry

Unlike other humanoid robots that prioritize social interaction or personal assistance, Wandercraft's approach emphasizes physical labor. The Calvin 40 forgoes the typical human-like features, such as a head and hands, in favor of a more streamlined design optimized for heavy-duty tasks.

"We're not focused on adding a head, because it doesn't help with navigation, the same goes for hands, hands are very fragile," explained Wandercraft CEO Matthieu Masselin. "We believe we have a humanoid robot that can carry the heaviest payload."

With a payload capacity of up to 88 pounds, the Calvin 40 outperforms its competitors like Tesla's Optimus and Figure AI's Figure 02, which are rated for around 45 pounds. This impressive lifting power is a testament to Wandercraft's exoskeleton expertise, where the technology had to handle human-sized loads.

Targeting Hazardous and Hard-to-Staff Roles

Wandercraft's strategic vision is to deploy the Calvin 40 in environments built for human workers, addressing the challenges of hazardous or difficult-to-staff tasks. By mimicking the human form, the robot can navigate these spaces more effectively than traditional industrial machines.

"So many environments are built for the human form that it's difficult to address all needs without mimicking it," Masselin said, hinting at the company's partnership with French automaker Renault Group for initial testing and deployment.

As the global market for humanoid robots is expected to reach $38 billion by 2035, according to a Goldman Sachs report, Wandercraft's focus on heavy-duty applications could give them a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving robotics landscape.

Hugging Face Enters the Fray with Reachy 2

Wandercraft's announcement comes amidst the entry of another prominent player in the humanoid robotics space - Hugging Face. The AI company has unveiled Reachy 2, a $70,000 open-source humanoid robot developed by its latest acquisition, Pollen Robotics.

While open-source robots are not entirely new, Reachy 2 represents a significant step forward, with Hugging Face positioning it for use in robotics research and education at prestigious institutions like Cornell and Carnegie Mellon.

As the humanoid robot market continues to evolve, Wandercraft's focus on industrial applications and Hugging Face's foray into the academic and research sectors suggest a diversifying landscape, where different players cater to distinct market segments.