LimX Dynamics recently demonstrated significant progress with its CL-1 humanoid robot, unveiling an updated version with significantly improved physical and functional capabilities. Since its initial launch in late 2023, the company has focused on training the robot to operate in a warehouse environment. The CL-1 is shown lifting and moving heavy objects around a simulated warehouse in a demonstration video. LimX notes that the footage was shot in an unedited sequence, highlighting the robot’s true capabilities.
According to the company, the CL-1 uses real-time perception to understand its surroundings and coordinates full-body movements to lift and place heavy objects. Instead of human-like hands, the robot is equipped with simple paddle-like end effectors to grasp and control containers or boxes. One interesting feature demonstrated in the video is the robot’s ability to react to interruptions in real time during object acquisition, reassessing the scene, replanning, and then continuing its mission.
All in a video
In the 3-minute one-take video, CL-1 takes on the challenge of continuous heavy objects loading among shelves in a simulated warehouse, showcasing the advantages of the general-purpose form factor of humanoid robots. By enhancing whole-body motion control and real-time perceptive loco-manipulation with hardware upgrades, CL-1 adopts multiple postures, including loaded deep squats, loaded stand from a squat, loaded lift, and loaded walking. It lifts and unloads objects with as much as an 80 cm vertical span by coordinating leg and arm movements as one. Also, it can filter out unpredictable external disturbances, re-locate the target object, autonomously replan the task, and adjust its position to place the object at the designated location. Maintains stable performance during multiple mobile operations, addressing the challenges of long-duration work tasks.
For the logistics and manufacturing sector
This development is part of a broader context of rapid evolution in the field of humanoid robots. In recent years, companies such as Agility Robotics, Tesla, Figure AI and Sanctuary AI have made significant progress, moving from simple walking demonstrations to robots capable of performing complex tasks with hand-eye coordination. The logistics and manufacturing sector is emerging as the main application market for these humanoid robots. Large companies such as Amazon and Hyundai invest in this technology, while many car manufacturers seek partnerships with humanoid robot developers.
This demonstration by LimX Dynamics represents another step forward in the integration of humanoid robots into real-world work environments, promising to revolutionize sectors such as warehouse management and industrial manufacturing. Speaking of one of the most representative companies in the sector, Figure AI, did you know that it recently presented a new humanoid model? It is called Figure 02; it is equipped with OpenAI voice technology and has many improvements over the previous model. As for innovative training methods applied to robotics, a team of researchers has developed a revolutionary algorithm that allows robots to improve their skills through practice autonomously. The first tests were successful using a model from Boston Dynamics, the canine robot Spot.
