TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Robotics and Automation
A roundup of recent advances in engineering technology. In this issue, a look at some of the latest innovations and advances in robotics and automation technology.
CHORES AND MORE
A consumer-ready humanoid robot is available for preorder. In October, Palo Alto, Calif.-based 1X revealed NEO, a robot that can automate everyday chores and offer personalized assistance.
“Humanoids were long a thing of sci-fi... then they were a thing of research, but today—with the launch of NEO—humanoid robots become a product,” said Bernt Børnich, CEO and founder of 1X, in a launch statement. “NEO closes the gap between our imaginations and the world we live in, to the point where we can actually ask a humanoid robot for help and help is granted.”
The robot itself has what the company calls “Human Level Dexterity” hands, along with a head-to-toe soft body made of custom 3D lattice polymer structures. NEO weighs 66 pounds, but can lift more than 150 pounds and carry 55 pounds. When operating, this robotic companion is no louder than an average refrigerator.
To ensure connectivity, NEO comes equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth, and 5G, plus a three-stage speaker in its pelvis and chest area. It also has a chore mode to complete tasks such as folding laundry or cleaning, and thanks to its built-in large language model (LLM), NEO can carry on conversations with its owners—and it even remembers conversations to help learn for future interactions.
NEO comes in three colors—tan, gray, and dark brown—and is now available for preorder at the early access price of $20,000, which ensures priority 2026 delivery. If that’s a bit too steep, there’s also a subscription model priced at $499 per month. The company plans to begin deliveries to the United States in 2026, then expand internationally in 2027.
Photos: 1X
AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY ROBOT PLATFORM
In December, Hyundai Motor Group revealed the final iteration of its Mobile Eccentric Droid, or MobED, which is the company’s first mass-produced mobility robot platform.
Developed by Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics LAB, the MobED is designed for diverse industrial and everyday applications and is available in two models: MobED Pro, which integrates additional sensors and features, such as LiDAR-camera fusion and ‘follow-me’ mode, and MobED Basic, which provides users with flexibility to build custom applications without pre-installed autonomy features.
“Beyond a simple mobility platform, MobED offers a next-generation solution adaptable to diverse industries and everyday life,” said Dong Jin Hyun, vice president and head of Hyundai’s Robotics LAB, in a press statement. “MobED will set new standards in the global robotics market and accelerate a future where humans and robots coexist.”
At MobED’s core are proprietary Drive-and-Lift (DnL) modules that integrate posture control plus driving and steering motors for seamless multi-directional movement. The droid’s eccentric-based posture control mechanism maintains level positioning, adjusts height dynamically, and adapts to irregular or inclined surfaces.
Although MobED can drive autonomously, it can also be driven by using its touchscreen controller that has a 3D UI/UX. Both LiDAR and cameras allow the robot to determine its surroundings in real time and are paired with an AI-powered detection system.
Both the MobED Pro and MobED Basic models will be available for purchase in the first half of 2026.
Photo: Hyundai Motor Group
END-OF-LINE AUTOMATION
Over the summer, Montreal-based Vention launched its next-generation Rapid Series Palletizer. This robotic solution can reach stack heights up to 136 inches with an optional riser and has a redesigned base that supports both pallet jacks and forklifts, allowing for anchor-free relocation across the factory floor.
Vention’s palletizer integrates with modular grippers and conveyors to adapt to any product type or size and supports payloads up to 66 pounds with a collaborative robot or up to 308 pounds with an industrial robot.
“Our goal with this release was simple: make end-of-line palletizing even smarter, more mobile, and ready for anything. Our modular ecosystem also enables manufacturers to easily add on other end-of-line options and ensure they are completely compatible out of the box,” said Francois Giguère, Vention's chief technology officer, in a statement.
Users can monitor operations remotely and unlock actionable insights with built-in analytics and a remote live video stream.
Photo: Vention Inc.
FOOD ASSEMBLY
Since meal assembly has proven to be particularly challenging to automate, especially in high-mix production environments that require different stock-keeping units on the same production line with quick changeovers, two companies have partnered to develop a solution. That fix is a pair of flexible robots that occupy the same footprint as a worker and operate safely alongside humans while picking and placing various ingredients into trays on a conveyor. Utilizing an AI-enabled perception system, Chef’s robots accurately detect trays and precisely place ingredients while meeting high throughput requirements.
This joint meal assembly automation solution from Chef Robotics and JBT Marel’s Proseal will allow food manufacturers to flexibly automate the assembly and packaging of fresh and frozen ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) meals.
“Food companies are under more pressure than ever to reduce costs and increase throughput while maintaining flexibility,” said Rajat Bhageria, CEO of Chef Robotics, in a press statement. “By partnering with Proseal, we can deliver a seamless automation solution that goes beyond meal assembly to include sealing and packaging. Food manufacturers with high-mix, high-volume production environments can now handle food assembly and packaging with the same precision and flexibility at a fraction of the labor cost.”
This robotic solution is available to food manufacturers in the United States and Canada.
Proseal’s GT1e tray sealer (left) and Chef’s robot (right). Photo: Chef Robotics/Proseal
© 2026 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved.