On August 30, U.S.-based humanoid robotics pioneer 1X Technologies AS introduced NEO Beta, a prototype of their bipedal humanoid robot NEO, designed specifically for household use.
1X has hired a team of full-time operators to help the robot learn and refine various household tasks, with the NEO robot capable of end-to-end autonomous operation. The company is currently preparing for mass production at its factory in Moss, Norway.
Historically, most humanoid robots have been designed for industrial or specialized tasks, including applications in automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and domestic services. Examples include Amazon's Digit, Mercedes-Benz's Apollo, BMW's Figure AI humanoid robot, and Boston Dynamics' Atlas, which is being tested in Hyundai's factories.
While many experts see home robots as a long-term vision, 1X's NEO Beta is already capable of meeting some household needs. The company plans to deploy the robot in select households later this year for pilot testing, though pricing details have not yet been disclosed.
Despite NEO Beta's capabilities, 1X remains cautious about placing the robot in environments with consumers, children, and pets, emphasizing that their developers are focused on ensuring product safety.
"Our top priority is safety," said 1X CEO Bernt Børnich. "Safety is the foundation for confidently introducing NEO Beta into homes, where it will gather necessary feedback and demonstrate its abilities in real-world settings."
Børnich also mentioned, "This year, we will deploy a limited number of NEO robots in selected households for research and development purposes. This step brings us closer to achieving our mission."
According to 1X, NEO was designed from the outset as a consumer-grade robot. To achieve this, the robot weighs only 25 kilograms (though the Beta prototype is slightly heavier). For comparison, Tesla's second-generation Optimus weighs 57 kilograms, Figure 02 weighs 70 kilograms, and the Unitree G1 weighs 35 kilograms.
All humanoid robot manufacturers aim to prevent their robots from harming humans, but as long as robots interact with people, accidents are inevitable (not due to intentional harm, but rather accidental collisions). How a robot responds in such situations could be crucial in determining the severity of the incident.
Børnich noted that the NEO Beta robot is not only lighter than its competitors but also softer. While most current humanoid robots have hard plastic or metal exteriors, NEO is dressed in a jumpsuit with cushioning inserts in the muscle areas. Additionally, 1X's robots have no sharp points.
In January, 1X Technologies secured $100 million in Series B funding to support its next phase of expansion and growth. However, the company has not yet provided retail pricing information for the NEO robot.
For reference, Elon Musk has repeatedly stated that Tesla's Optimus will eventually be sold for under $20,000, while the Unitree G1, released in May by a Chinese brand, is priced at 99,000 RMB.
