Figure partners with Catalyst Brands to deploy humanoid robots in logistics operations

LEAD: Figure has announced a partnership with Catalyst Brands to deploy its humanoid robots in logistics operations, marking a significant step toward commercial adoption of general-purpose humanoid robots in warehouse and supply chain environments. This collaboration signals growing industry confidence in humanoid form factors for repetitive material handling tasks.

BACKGROUND: The logistics sector faces persistent labor shortages and high turnover rates, driving demand for automation solutions that can adapt to existing workflows without extensive facility redesign. Figure’s humanoid robot, the Figure 01, is designed to perform a wide range of bimanual manipulation and locomotion tasks in human-centric spaces. Competing platforms include Tesla’s Optimus, Agility Robotics’ Digit, and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, but Figure focuses on commercial deployment with a vertically integrated approach to hardware and AI.

KEY DETAILS: The partnership will see Figure 01 robots deployed at Catalyst Brands’ logistics facilities to handle tasks such as box moving, palletizing, and order picking. The Figure 01 is a bipedal humanoid standing approximately 5'6" tall and weighing 130 lbs, with a payload capacity of 45 lbs per arm. It uses electric actuators for smooth, low-noise operation and is powered by a custom battery pack providing up to 5 hours of runtime. The robot’s whole-body control system enables dynamic walking and balancing, while its dexterous hands with 12 degrees of freedom allow it to grasp a variety of objects. Figure emphasizes that the robot can learn new tasks through teleoperation and reinforcement learning, reducing the need for explicit programming.

From a design perspective, Figure prioritizes human-like proportions and movement to operate seamlessly in environments built for people. The robot’s torso houses computing and battery, while limbs are modular for easy maintenance. The partnership with Catalyst Brands will initially focus on proof-of-concept deployments, with plans to scale to multiple facilities if successful.

OUTLOOK: This deployment represents a real-world test of humanoid robots in logistics, a sector with high potential for automation. If Figure 01 proves reliable and cost-effective, it could accelerate adoption across warehousing and manufacturing, challenging traditional fixed automation. However, challenges remain in autonomy, safety, and unit economics. The partnership will provide valuable data for Figure to refine its hardware and software for commercial viability.

Source: Robotics & Automation News