Latest news with #CloneRobotics'
Fox News
11-03-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Creepy humanoid robot moves using 1,000 eerie artificial muscles
Clone Robotics, a Polish-American company, has recently unveiled its groundbreaking humanoid robot, Protoclone, sparking both fascination and unease across the internet. This eerily lifelike android represents a significant advancement in biomimetic robotics, closely replicating human anatomy and movement in ways never before seen. With its unsettlingly realistic movements, Protoclone is pushing the boundaries of what we expect from robots, raising both intrigue and questions about the future of robotics. Protoclone stands at an impressive 6 feet tall and boasts a skeleton made of 206 polymer bones, mirroring the human skeletal structure. What truly sets this robot apart is its muscular system, featuring over 1,000 artificial muscles powered by Clone Robotics' proprietary "Myofiber" technology. The Myofiber system is a revolutionary approach to robotic movement. Each artificial muscle consists of a mesh tube containing an air-filled balloon. When hydraulic fluid is pumped into the balloon, it expands, causing the mesh to contract, much like a human muscle. This system is powered by a 500-watt electric pump, Protoclone's mechanical "heart," capable of circulating fluid at a rate of 40 liters per minute. Protoclone's nervous system is equally impressive, featuring four depth cameras in the skull for vision, 70 inertial sensors for joint position awareness and 320 pressure sensors for force feedback. This advanced sensory network allows the robot to process visual input and learn by observing human activities. The recent video release of Protoclone in action has garnered millions of views and sparked intense online debate. In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner. While some viewers have expressed awe at the technological achievement, others have reacted with discomfort or even hostility. Comments range from comparisons to "sleep paralysis demons" to references to dystopian science fiction scenarios. Despite its impressive capabilities, Protoclone is still in early development. Currently, it requires suspension for stability and lacks the ability to stand or balance independently. Clone Robotics plans to launch production with 279 units, named "Clone Alpha," with pre-orders opening in late 2025. While Protoclone's current iteration may be more unsettling than practical, it's clear that we're on the cusp of a new era in robotics. As these technologies continue to advance, we'll likely see more refined and capable humanoid robots entering our homes and workplaces. The question remains: Are we ready for this future, and how will it reshape our relationship with technology? Does the appearance and movement of Protoclone fascinate or unsettle you? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Can somebody let this robot down?
It's not clear that anyone was asking for a company to build a muscular, sinewy robot or to see a video of it dangling, helpless from a hook, but life is full of surprises and this YouTube video of Clone Robotics' "Protoclone" is here all the same. The Protoclone appears to be a prototype version of the "Clone" robot the aptly named Clone Robotics is working to build. The video shows the Protoclone flexing its arms and legs, with visible artificial muscle fibers moving underneath its white "skin." Based on Clone Robotic's video description, the impressive part here is that fact that the Protoclone has "over 200 degrees of freedom, over 1,000 Myofibers, and over 200 sensors," and also that the robot is "faceless," for some reason. The end goal for the startup is to build an android that's anatomically correct, with synthetic nervous, skeletal, muscular and vascular systems powering its movement. The "Myofibers" included in the Protoclone are a custom Clone Robotics creation with "the desirable qualities of mammalian skeletal muscle." For the eventual Clone robot's purposes, those qualities are the ability to "respond in less than 50 ms with a bigger than 30 percent unloaded contraction" and "at least a kilogram of contraction force for a single, three gram muscle fiber," according to Clone Robotics' website. That the Protoclone is dangling in the video rather than roaming around of its own accord is a reflection of its prototype nature. Robots are often hung or propped up with a support arm until they can support their own body weight, something that can be hard to achieve without all of the right materials. Clone Robotics is not unique in pursuing a human-like robot that could theoretically replace human workers. Figure is exploring a similar idea, minus the muscles. Tesla started off on the wrong foot with a person in a spandex suit, but it's serious about robots, too. Even the largest of tech companies have turned their attention to robots: Both Meta and Apple are reportedly exploring robotics as a future product category. It's fair to say Clone Robotics is winning when it comes to posting videos of muscular robots, though.
Russia Today
21-02-2025
- Science
- Russia Today
Human-like ‘Clone' robot twitches to life (VIDEO)
An android that mimics human anatomy with over 1,000 artificial muscles attached to a fully modeled skeleton and has an intricate 'nervous system' has been unveiled in a viral video by a Polish-American robotics company. The video of Clone Robotics' 'Alpha' prototype, released on Wednesday, has quickly racked up tens of millions of views. It features a faceless white android suspended in mid-air, twitching as its synthetic muscles engage. While it resembles other humanoid robots like Elon Musk's Optimus and Boston Dynamics' Atlas, its design principles set it apart. The model utilizes biomimetics — design inspired by biological evolution, such as Velcro mimicking plant hooks — to enhance the robot's functionality. The full-body Clone expands on earlier creations, including a humanoid hand and a torso, which the inventors claim are adept at delicate tasks and match human strength and dexterity. The android is intended to serve as a domestic assistant, utilizing a natural language interface to follow commands from its owner. The firm plans to produce 279 Clones in the near future. Protoclone, the world's first bipedal, musculoskeletal android. The research behind Clone began in 2014, led by Polish engineer Lucas Kozlik and later joined by California-based mathematician Dhanush Radhakrishnan. Some media outlets have likened Clone to the lifelike robots featured in HBO's Westworld. The Clone Robotics website also touts a project called Neo, described enigmatically as a 'vision of a limitless future for humanity.'
