More than a robot: Machine god-like humanoid to help automate factory tasks

US robotics startup Kinisi has previewed its next-generation mobile manipulation platform designed to work safely alongside people in real-world environments.

Unveiled in July 2025, KR1 is a low-cost, versatile robot with human-like strength and precision, ideal for lifting, handling, and moving objects across retail, maintenance, assembly, and logistics tasks

Unlike traditional automation systems limited to fixed, structured spaces, the California-based firm uses real-time 3D perception from fused cameras and sensors to understand dynamic surroundings.

“Designed to take on the world’s toughest logistics and manufacturing tasks — safely, autonomously, and with precision. Every movement, every action, powered by real-time AI,” according to the company’s website.

Human-level handling

Kinisi’s KR1 is an autonomous humanoid system designed to modernize industrial pick-and-place workflows. With its wheeled base designed for smooth, agile movement on flat warehouse floors, the KR1 eliminates the need for complicated legged systems.

The robot features a dual-handed manipulation platform capable of handling both fragile items and heavier loads with fine-motor accuracy and supports a 22-pound (10 kilograms) payload. Designed for environments where tasks shift frequently, KR1 uses demonstration-based learning, enabling operators to teach routines quickly without complex programming.

Mobility and perception are central to its design. KR1 moves at speeds up to 2.4 m/s, with adaptive control for confined areas. A combination of stereo depth cameras, a 180° LiDAR array, and SLAM provides spatial awareness, supported by ±2 mm depth accuracy at two meters. Active suspension allows the robot to maintain balance and stability across uneven surfaces while transporting items.

Precision manipulation is enabled by compact wave-gear actuators and a modular gripper system that can be swapped for different end-effectors, including vacuum tools. Processing is handled by an onboard NVIDIA Jetson module running real-time transformer models for perception and planning.

Power is supplied by a hot-swappable 48 V lithium-ion battery, delivering six to eight hours of operation, with rapid charging capabilities. Safety features include dual redundant controllers, layered emergency stops, automatic posture locking, and continuous diagnostics. Remote telemetry, secure cloud connectivity, and over-the-air updates support large-scale fleet management and deployment.

Autonomy meets industry

KR1 is designed as a fully autonomous mobile manipulator, capable of operating independently without constant cloud connectivity. By processing data locally, it delivers fast responses and maintains functionality even in low-connectivity environments.

According to Kinisi, the architecture also improves data privacy and ensures consistent performance during mission-critical tasks. According to Kinisi, the system uses advanced AI that allows the robot to learn from mistakes and adapt to real operating conditions across multiple industries.

KR1 is built for use in dynamic environments such as warehouses and factories, where it can perform demanding physical tasks with accuracy and minimal supervision. Its autonomous operation enables seamless integration into existing workflows with little setup required. A key innovation behind the platform is Kinisi’s data flywheel: every deployed unit contributes to a shared knowledge base, allowing the entire fleet to benefit from each robot’s experiences. As one KR1 improves, all others become more capable, accelerating deployment and system-wide performance.

The robot also uses imitation learning, removing the need for programming. Operators simply demonstrate a task, and KR1 learns to repeat it independently. Kinisi claims the approach enables rapid adaptation to new tasks, making the system scalable, intuitive, and positioned as a future-ready automation solution.