1X Technologies Launches Humanoid Robot NEO Gamma, Set to Become a Daily Assistant for Families

Recently, 1X Technologies announced the launch of its next-generation household humanoid robot — NEO Gamma. This robot marks a significant step forward in humanoid robot technology, extending its penetration into home environments, with the goal of providing a more intelligent and convenient lifestyle for modern families.

Unlike traditional industrial humanoid robots, which focus on executing specific tasks efficiently, the design philosophy of NEO Gamma goes beyond just performing single tasks. It is intended to play a more diversified role in human daily life. The robot is capable of walking and conversing like a human and is designed to adapt to various tasks in the home, from daily item handling to interacting with family members.

1X Technologies, originally known as Halodi Robotics, was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Norway. The company focuses on the development and production of robots with human-like motion and behavior capabilities. Dedicated to technological innovation to enhance global labor, it is one of the first companies in the industry to apply humanoid robots in household settings. The company’s goal is not just to make robots perform tasks in industrial environments but also to ensure that robots are able to adapt and integrate into daily home life, providing smart services and improving the quality of life.

Unlike most industrial robots that focus on the efficient execution of specific tasks, the R&D goal of NEO Gamma is to make robots adaptable to the changing and complex situations found in household environments. CEO Bernt Børnich pointed out that in the future, every household may have its own robot assistant. However, achieving this goal requires the development process to involve human interaction, not just be confined to laboratory or industrial settings. He emphasized that the home environment provides real-world complexities for robots, such as opening doors, avoiding pets, and adapting to changing surroundings. These details allow the robot to better understand and respond to the various challenges of real-life situations.

In contrast, industrial robots often work in standardized and relatively simple environments and lack the ability to handle the intricacies of daily household life. This is one of the reasons why many robots fail to successfully adapt to the home environment.

To enable NEO Gamma to efficiently handle daily tasks in home environments, 1X Technologies has innovated in several key technologies. Firstly, NEO Gamma uses a multipurpose full-body control system, enabling it to imitate human walking and simulate the movement of human arms. This technology allows NEO Gamma’s movements to be more natural and closely aligned with human actions, allowing it to move smoothly within home environments and perform actions like squatting to pick up objects or sitting down. Its motion control operates at a frequency of 100Hz, ensuring smooth and precise movements. Moreover, NEO Gamma has been trained through reinforcement learning and real human motion capture data, enhancing its flexibility and adaptability, making it better suited to the needs of daily life.

In terms of object manipulation, NEO Gamma also excels. The robot is equipped with an advanced visual operation model, enabling it to automatically recognize and pick up various types of objects in untrained environments. This technology allows NEO Gamma to use neural networks to predict and execute complex tasks based on raw sensor data, ensuring that the robot can accurately perform tasks such as item transportation and organization. Whether picking up scattered toys or moving items from one place to another, NEO Gamma can carry out these tasks efficiently.

In addition to hardware innovations, 1X Technologies has developed a powerful language processing system for NEO Gamma — a large language model (LLM). This system allows NEO Gamma to engage in natural language communication with humans, further enhancing communication through body language. The company’s “companion mode” allows users to interact with the robot through voice, enhancing the emotional connection and interaction experience. This more humanized design means that NEO Gamma is not just a work assistant, but more like a family member, capable of engaging in more natural and friendly communication with users.

When it comes to the robot’s appearance, 1X Technologies has carefully crafted NEO Gamma’s design. The company has introduced a completely new head design, aimed at creating a “comfortable and familiar” feeling, ensuring that the robot can integrate seamlessly into home environments and connect well with family members. To enhance the robot’s approachability, NEO Gamma’s sweater and shoes are produced using advanced 3D printing technology with Shemiseki machines from Japan, utilizing a seamless knitted process. This design not only makes the robot appear lighter and more modern but also ensures that the fabric fits the robot’s body perfectly, allowing for fluid movement without hindering its performance.

In terms of safety, NEO Gamma utilizes 1X Technologies' “tendon-driven system” to control joint movements. Unlike traditional electric-driven systems, this tendon-driven system wraps the joints in soft materials, reducing the risk of collisions with people or objects and improving the robot’s stability when performing complex tasks. This design makes NEO Gamma safer and more suitable for daily tasks in home environments. Additionally, NEO Gamma is equipped with “emotional earrings” that provide real-time feedback, enhancing the communication between the robot and the user, making human-robot interaction more intuitive and natural.

In contrast to many competitors focusing on industrial or commercial applications, 1X Technologies has taken a more unique development path. Many of its competitors, such as Agility Robotics, are collaborating with companies like GXO, Schaeffler, Ricoh, and Manhattan Associates to develop robots for logistics and material handling, while Apptronik has secured $350 million in investment to strengthen its position in the industrial sector. However, 1X Technologies has chosen to focus on the home environment, aiming to bring humanoid robots into everyday family life and address the daily needs of families. This strategy sets 1X Technologies apart in the humanoid robot field and opens up a new development direction, signaling the widespread use of robot technology in future household life.

As technology continues to advance, 1X Technologies' NEO Gamma represents an important development trend for future household robots. This robot is not only continuously improving in functionality but its design and interaction features also better meet the needs of home users. With 1X Technologies' ongoing innovation and research, the dream of having a robot assistant in every home is gradually becoming a reality, and in the future, robots will no longer be a distant technological fantasy, but an accessible and intelligent companion in our daily lives.