WIRobotics Debuts ALLEX, A Human-Responsive Humanoid Platform

• ALLEX is WIRobotics' first general-purpose humanoid robot, unveiled at its Robot Innovation Hub in South Korea.
• The robot can sense and respond to physical forces across its entire upper body, without external sensors.

WIRobotics has unveiled the upper body of ALLEX, its first general-purpose humanoid robot built for real-world interaction. The robot is designed to work safely near people and can detect physical contact, such as touch, impact, or lifting, using built-in force control instead of external sensors. The company introduced the system at its Robot Innovation Hub at Korea University of Technology and Education in South Korea.

The robot includes a 15-joint hand that can grip tightly, move with precision, and feel even small amounts of pressure. Its arms use a new low-friction motor system that makes them easy to move and safe to use. Together with a gravity-balanced waist, the whole upper body is lightweight but strong, able to lift over 3 kg with one hand while weighing only 5 kg from the shoulder down.

To build smarter systems for ALLEX, WIRobotics is working with several partners. These include RLWRLD, a startup focused on physical AI, and major research groups like MIT, KIST, and UMass. These partnerships are aimed at improving the robot’s abilities and preparing it for global research and development use.

Next, the company plans to turn ALLEX into a flexible product. Parts like the arms and hands will be offered on their own or as part of the full robot. WIRobotics will begin field testing in areas like manufacturing, services, and home use, with a long-term goal of making humanoid robots usable in services, manufacturing, and household tasks by 2030.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

ALLEX shows that force sensing doesn’t have to rely on external sensors. Building touch directly into the robot’s mechanics could simplify design and improve safety in real-world use.

Source: PR Newswire / WIRobotics