New humanoid robot handles pick-and-place tasks with accuracy, speed

Kinisi Robotics, a US-based startup founded in 2023, has introduced KR1, an autonomous humanoid robot designed for precise pick-and-place tasks in industrial and warehouse environments. Equipped with two hands and a wheeled base, KR1 combines human-like strength and dexterity to handle a variety of objects—from heavy boxes to delicate items—with accuracy and speed. It supports a payload of up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms), operates for up to eight hours on a single charge with hot-swappable batteries, and navigates smoothly on flat warehouse floors without the complexity of legged locomotion. The robot’s onboard intelligence enables it to autonomously avoid obstacles, adapt to changing workflows, and learn from simple demonstrations, allowing rapid deployment and easy scaling with minimal infrastructure changes. KR1 operates independently without relying on cloud connectivity, processing data locally to ensure reliable, fast responses even in offline or low-connectivity settings. This standalone architecture enhances operational continuity, data privacy, and overall performance. Kinisi’s