Russia to Begin Production of Humanoid Robots
Tech giants Yandex and Sber are preparing to introduce functional humanoid robots by next year, signaling a leap from science fiction to reality.
Humanoid robots—machines that mimic human form, behavior, and appearance—are moving closer to mass production in Russia. The initiative is being driven by Yandex and Sber, with the announcement made by Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov. He noted that the groundwork was laid by the Android Technology research and production association, which has long been developing robotic systems.
The company has already produced more than 40 robots, including the well-known FEDOR. In 2019, FEDOR traveled to the International Space Station, becoming the first robot in orbit. Before launch from Baikonur, the robot famously echoed Yuri Gagarin’s words as the first human in space: “Let’s go!”
A year ago, Russian robotics firm Promobot introduced a prototype humanoid robot named ARDI. According to Alikhanov, the platform could serve as the basis for creating a fully functional android.
Globally, engineers are still struggling to build humanoid robots that can outperform humans. For example, in April this year, China staged a half-marathon race between robots and people. None of the “iron athletes” managed to complete the 21-kilometer course faster than a human runner.
