Minerva Humanoids reveals remote humanoid built in five months

A San Francisco-based startup, Minerva Humanoids, has built a walking, remote-controlled humanoid robot in five months, according to MSN. The robot, named Roger, is designed for bomb disposal and hazardous energy jobs, allowing specialists to operate it from a safe distance.

The company raised a $10 million round led by General Catalyst in October, as StartupReader previously reported. That funding followed growing interest in humanoid robots for industrial applications, including Maven Robotics’ commercial pilot in a UK factory last month. Minerva’s timeline—from zero to functional prototype in under half a year—stands out in a sector where most competitors have taken years to reach similar milestones.

The rapid development suggests Minerva is targeting a narrow but high-value niche: remote operation in environments too dangerous for humans or existing machinery. While other startups focus on autonomous or multi-purpose humanoids, Minerva’s pitch centers on teleoperation, a model that could reduce the need for complex AI integration. Whether that trade-off will appeal to industrial customers remains an open question.

The next signal to watch is deployment. Maven’s factory trial offers a precedent for real-world testing; Minerva has yet to announce a commercial pilot. If successful, the startup could carve out a defensible segment in the crowded humanoid robotics market.

Sources: msn.com