Concept & Text/Media
Erico Guizzo & Randi Klett
Development
Erico Guizzo & Erik Vrielink
Additional Reporting
Evan Ackerman
Special Issue Editor
Eliza Strickland
Executive Editor
Jean Kumagai
Creative Director
Mark Montgomery
Editor in Chief
Harry Goldstein
Special Thanks
To all robot makers and researchers who kindly helped us with information and materials, and allowed us to feature their amazing projects here.
Learn more about the robots and technologies featured in this story, most of which you can find on
IEEE Spectrum’sRobots Guide. In order of appearance:iCub, Atlas HD, Atlas, Nadia, G1, Florian, Hercules, Johnny 05, Roomba, Digit, Optimus, Valkyrie, Walker S1, T-HR3, Neo, Phoenix, Apollo, GR-1, H1, Figure 02, Gitai G1, Everyday Robot, π0/Physical Intelligence, Falcon 9, Rosie, Asimo, E Series, Armar, Geminoid HI-1, Albert Hubo, Philip K. Dick, Sophia, Ameca, Han, EXRobots, CB2, Telenoid, Erica, Titan, Aila, ROBOTIS Dynamixel-Y, Maxon HEJ 90-48-140, AMBIDEX, Hand Arm System, Eve, Robotiq, HRP-2, Open X-Embodiment Project, NVIDIA Project GR00T, Figure 01, Astro, Stretch.
This story is part of IEEE Spectrum’s “Reinventing Invention” special issue, in which we highlight both the creative act and the grindingly hard engineering work required to turn an idea into something world changing. As Spectrum celebrates 60 years of publication this year, we take you behind the scenes of some awe-inspiring projects to reveal how technology is being made—and remade—in our time.
For a complete picture of state-of-the-art humanoid robotics today and the companies competing to build the best bot, see this feature article by Spectrum robotics editor Evan Ackerman: “Humanoid Robots Are Getting to Work.”
University of California, Berkeley, roboticist Ken Goldberg delivers an insightful TED Talk about the science and engineering challenges of bringing humanoid helpers into the real world: “Why don’t we have better robots yet?”
In this excellent “Huge If True” episode, Cleo Abram reveals how Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot works, and the challenges it and other robots face to break free from their lab confines: “I Challenged Boston Dynamics’ Famous Atlas Robot.”
Sci-fi robots have long captured our imaginations. Featured in this story, T-800 from “The Terminator” (1984), the android Andrew from “Bicentennial Man” (1999), Rosie from “The Jetsons” (1962–1963), and C-3PO and R2-D2 from “Star Wars” (1977) are all well known. We also feature two lesser-known but fascinating robots: the cheerful domestic bot Sunny from the Apple TV+ show “Sunny,” and the Asimo-look-alike humanoid from the comedy-drama film “Robot & Frank” (2012).
For more on creepy robots, read our Uncanny Valley explainer, as well as Masahiro Mori’s original “The Uncanny Valley” essay, which Spectrum published in 2012 as the first English translation authorized by Mori, in collaboration with the IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine.