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The last two weeks for many of us have been marked by sporting struggles on various arenas related to the Olympics.

There was sweat, blood, and tears. The joys, as well as the other side...

But...For robo freaks, the last two weeks have also been full of excitement!

Especially a lot has happened in the field of humanoid robots.

No need to wait, let’s dive into the news ;)

Welcome Figure02

Let’s start with the breaking news from Figure.

After 18 months of work, starting from the concept phase, Figure has unveiled the second generation of its robot.

Figure02 is a real badass.

Both in terms of hardware and software:

→ 6x Cameras

→ 50%+ Battery

→ Onboard VLM

→ 3x CPU / GPU

→ 4th Gen Hands

→ Integrated wiring

→ Exoskeleton structure

→ Speech-to-speech reasoning

Figure claims that their robots can perform for up to 5 hours on a single charge!

Moreover, the hands of this robot are a true masterpiece. 16 DoF and movements so smooth that once covered with artificial skin, it will be hard to distinguish whether it's a human or a robotic hand.

The appearance also deserves recognition.

In my opinion, this is currently the most beautiful among humanoid robots.

A quick glance at this robot, and you know you're dealing with the highest quality.

I'm just wondering one thing... Doesn't it look a bit too ominous for working with humans?

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Neura Robotics enters the game with 4NE-1

Neura Robotics is a German startup that has placed significant emphasis on more traditional industrial forms and is becoming increasingly known in the world of cobots day by day.

The matters related to the humanoid robot have been postponed several times, but what's delayed is not abandoned.

Neura announced its collaboration with Nvidia and showcased its humanoid robot, 4NE-1, to the whole world.

This German startup is among the selected few who received early access to Nvidia’s humanoid development and deployment tools, alongside players like Boston Dynamics, 1X, LimX Dynamics, and the previously mentioned Figure.

This showoff video represents plenty of actions taken by their robots.

But there’s a small catch here. The video doesn’t show the robot performing real tasks but only simulations used for teaching the robot.

Nonetheless, Neura is showing that it will be a contender in the race to the top spot.

Now we just have to wait for more!

Clone Robotics

Time for something from my backyard, at least halfway!

Clone Robotics is

“the creator of power-dense, biomimetic androids designed to tackle everyday challenges. The company’s products include anthropomorphic hands, biomimetic skeletons, custom portable hydraulic power supplies, proportional force valves, and proprietary artificial muscles. These innovations enable users to replace human labor with robots, delivering solutions that are not only faster and more cost-effective but also safer and more convenient.”

At least that’s their mission...

For now, they’re staying very much in the shadows and are quite stingy when it comes to providing information to the public.

But... I wouldn’t be writing about them if there weren’t any news!

This week, they released a video in which their robotic hand, controlled via teleoperation, manages to catch a tennis ball... Although it does so somewhat clumsily, it looks like in the near future, we might be able to juggle from anywhere in the world!

Moreover, Clone announces that we’ll soon get the entire robot torso.

Interesting... Very interesting!

Forrest Gump should start worrying!

The cinematic Forrest Gump began his dazzling career with ping-pong.

Back then, no one could match him... I wonder how he would fare against the latest invention from Google Deep Mind.

They have developed a table tennis bot capable of competing at a "solidly amateur human-level" against human players.

During testing, the robot defeated all beginner-level players and won 55% of its matches against intermediate players. However, it struggled against advanced players, losing every match. Overall, the bot secured 45% of wins across 29 games.

The system’s biggest limitation is its reaction time to fast balls, hindered by system latency, mandatory resets between shots, and insufficient data.

Beyond table tennis, DeepMind believes the research could influence broader robotics, particularly through policy architecture, simulation use in real games, and adaptive real-time strategy.

Are you also so optimistic?

Mountain Lovers, perk up your ears

Now I’m taking you into my world.

Mountains are something I love. I enjoy being there, hiking, and admiring the views. In the mountains, we leave behind the whole world “down below,” and it’s just us and the mountains. Exactly... The mountains, which demand incredibly good physical condition from us...

But what would you say to pants on steroids?

Skip, a wearable tech startup that started as a secretive project within Alphabet, has exited stealth mode this week, revealing a partnership with outdoor clothing brand Arc’teryx.

The technology, named MO/GO—short for "mountain goat"—is a hybrid soft/rigid system designed to enhance mobility and assist the wearer while walking. Instead of walking for the user, it provides a 40% energy boost to the quadriceps and hamstrings, while reducing strain on the knees.

To me, this sounds like a typical game-changer... but as a longtime mountain hiker, I have some concerns.

On one hand, it’s cool; a little boost never hurt anyone.

But on the other hand, people with little experience might bite off more than they can chew and attempt peaks that are not meant for them...

As always, common sense is key!