Figure Robotics Alpha Testing Humanoid Robot in Homes - 2025

Figure Robotics Accelerates Home Robot Testing

Figure is advancing its plans to introduce humanoid robots into residential environments. CEO Brett Adcock stated on Thursday that the company, based in the Bay Area, will initiate “alpha testing” of its Figure 02 robot within homes later in 2025.

This expedited schedule is attributed to the company’s innovative “generalist” Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model, known as Helix. The model is designed to enhance the robot’s capabilities.

The Role of the Helix Model

Adcock’s announcement follows a week after Figure unveiled its machine learning platform, Helix. This platform is engineered to process both visual information and natural language commands. This dual processing capability aims to accelerate the robot’s learning and adaptation to new tasks.

Earlier this month, Figure announced its decision to discontinue its partnership with OpenAI. This strategic shift allows the company to focus on developing its own proprietary AI models, such as Helix.

Early Home Testing and Capabilities

Figure has previously indicated that the home environment is a key target for its robotics development. During a visit to the company’s South Bay facilities, Adcock demonstrated preliminary home testing within a laboratory setting.

The recent Helix announcement provided further details regarding these plans. Videos showcased robots performing various household chores, including food preparation. Helix is specifically designed to coordinate the actions of two robots working collaboratively on a single task.

Focus on Industrial Applications

Despite interest in domestic applications, Figure, like many competitors, has initially prioritized industrial deployments. These are seen as more immediately profitable.

In early 2024, the company announced a pilot program utilizing its humanoid systems at a BMW manufacturing plant in South Carolina. Factories and warehouses are considered a logical starting point for both testing and implementation due to their structured and safer environments.

Broader Industry Trends

Other companies in the humanoid robotics sector, including Apptronik and Tesla, have also expressed intentions to bring their systems into the home. These robots are envisioned as solutions for addressing the needs of aging populations in countries like Japan and the United States.

The potential assistance provided by these systems could enable seniors to maintain independent living arrangements outside of assisted living facilities.

Challenges of Home Robotics

Norwegian startup 1X is among the few companies actively prioritizing the home robotics market. However, this path presents significant challenges.

Beyond pricing considerations, the variability of home environments poses a hurdle. Homes are often messy, feature inconsistent lighting, diverse flooring, stairs, and the presence of pets and children.

Looking Ahead

Figure’s 2025 plans for home testing are still evolving. The “alpha” designation suggests that testing will remain in its initial phases throughout the year.

Further development and refinement will be necessary before widespread deployment in residential settings becomes feasible.