AI Figures: Autonomous Humanoid Robots for Housekeeping

Seeing humanoids perform household tasks like vacuuming or tidying up a room has become an almost mundane scene. However, Figure AI introduces a true innovation with its robots, which is their ability to collaborate autonomously. This advancement represents a significant step forward in the field of robotics.

Getting a humanoid robot to walk is already a complex task. Teaching it to handle fragile objects is even more challenging. But making two robots cooperate in the same space around a common task is a challenge of an entirely different level. This is precisely what Figure AI aims to demonstrate with its F.03 models. These humanoids are capable of cleaning a room and making a bed together, entirely autonomously.

These Figure AI Robots Learn to Work in Pairs

The demonstration relies on Helix-02, the artificial intelligence system developed by Figure AI to pilot its humanoids. Unlike robots executing a predefined sequence of actions, the goal here is more ambitious: to make two machines cooperate in a dynamic environment, without a central conductor. The demonstration video illustrates this capability.

According to Figure AI, the two robots analyze the scene using their own cameras and interpret each other's intentions solely through observed movements. They do not communicate directly with each other but react like two humans trying to stretch a duvet cover without stepping on each other.

• "We taught two F.03 robots to clean a room and make a bed in under 2 minutes – completely autonomously."

The video showcases several impressive actions. The robots open a door, move an office chair, tidy up a pair of headphones, and close a book. However, the most striking moment remains the bed-making. The two humanoids grasp the duvet together, unfold it, and then smooth it out in a synchronized manner.

This detail may seem trivial, but manipulating a soft object like a blanket poses a real puzzle for robotics. Unlike a box or a rigid tool, a fabric constantly changes shape. Each movement alters the position of the object and forces the Figure AI robots to recalculate their actions in real-time.

A Technical Feat but Still Highly Controlled

Figure AI presents this demonstration as an important step toward humanoids capable of operating in real human environments. From a technical standpoint, the result is noteworthy.

The company claims this is a first in the industry. A single neural network would control multiple humanoid robots capable of cooperating on a complex task. The system combines visual perception, locomotion, and fine manipulation within a single artificial intelligence architecture.

However, it is necessary to maintain some perspective. As is often the case with such videos, everything takes place in a controlled environment. The room is tidied up before the exercise, objects are optimally placed, and no human interferes with the robots during the operation. We are still far from a real apartment with a stray cable, a cat passing by, or a pile of half-clean clothes on a chair.

Nonetheless, this does not diminish the interest of the demonstration. The advancements in humanoid robots are becoming increasingly visible, particularly at Figure AI.