A California-based robotics firm has introduced a humanoid robot, shifting focus away from flashy performances like dancing. Instead, this robot aims to tackle more mundane tasks like laundry and other daily chores.
Based in Redwood City, Dyna Robotics showcased its latest creation named Taku. This so-called “full-stack physical agent” is designed to manage comprehensive workflows in the real world, which, honestly, might make a significant difference in places such as hotels, restaurants, and warehouses.
The name Taku, taken from the Japanese word Takumi (匠), translates to “master of a craft.” This hints at its purpose, which is to help out with repetitive jobs. For instance, it’s engineered to perform tasks like loading washers, folding towels, chopping vegetables, and restocking shelves—essentially the kinds of things many of us might dread doing.
This robot stands at about the height of an average adult and is equipped to function in environments designed for human interaction. Its arms can move at speeds comparable to those of humans, which, I suppose, ensures it doesn’t slow down the workflow.
The biggest advantage touted? It eliminates the need for constant human oversight.
Lindon Gao, the CEO of Dyna Robotics, highlighted a common problem with the current generation of robots: they often require extra help from humans. If a person still has to intervene to reset, refill, or troubleshoot the robot, well, it’s not really doing the job autonomously, is it?
He noted that there’s a demand for machines that can complete tasks from start to finish without intervention.
Taku boasts a human-shaped upper body equipped with two arms—each featuring seven degrees of freedom—and a folding lower body, which allows it to reach various surfaces both high and low. However, don’t expect to see it walking like a human. It actually rolls on four wheels. This design, they say, suits its intended work better.
To showcase Taku in action, the company shared an unedited video of the robot managing an entire hotel laundry facility by itself. It deftly navigates between washing machines, dryers, and folding tables, retrieving laundry, and stacking shelves. That sounds pretty impressive, right?
Aside from laundry, Taku can also manage tasks like maintaining server systems or getting a drink from the fridge. Yet, it remains unclear how many units of Taku are ready for deployment or what the expected cost will be.
