Clone Robotics: Building Sweaty Robots, One Muscle at a Time
When most startups promise to “disrupt the industry,” they typically mean creating yet another food delivery app. But when Clone Robotics says it, they mean literally building synthetic humans that perspire under pressure. Founded in 2021 by Dhanush Radhakrishnan and Lukasz Kozlik, this ambitious company is either revolutionising robotics or creating the world’s most expensive workout partners.
The Masterminds Behind the Muscles
Meet the duo who thought, “Right then, robots aren’t complicated enough, let’s make them sweat”:
- Dhanush Radhakrishnan (CEO): The mastermind behind musculoskeletal android development, who apparently looked at a medical anatomy textbook and said, “I can build that.”
- Lukasz Kozlik (CTO): The wizard of lifelike robotic arms, whose previous work gained attention a decade ago. Because ordinary robot arms were just too mainstream.
Show Me the Money 💰
For those wondering if anyone else believes in sweaty robots, the answer is a resounding yes. Clone Robotics has secured £500,000 in funding from some serious players:
- Y Combinator co-founder (who clearly has a thing for unique startups)
- Former CTO of Coinbase (because crypto wasn’t experimental enough)
This might sound like pocket money in the world of robotics, but remember - they’re building robots that can literally perspire. That’s got to count for something.
The Grand Vision: More Than Just Fancy Mannequins
Clone Robotics’ vision is straightforward: create synthetic humans that can do anything a regular human can do, just with more hydraulic fluid and less moaning about overtime. Their goals include:
- Automating repetitive and unsafe labour
- Addressing skilled worker shortages
- Making robots indistinguishable from humans (because that’s not eerie at all)
The Secret Sauce: Myofiber Technology
Clone Robotics’ Myofiber technology in action - yes, those are robot muscles
Their approach to robotics is like a bizarre fusion of bodybuilding and engineering:
- Soft, water-powered artificial muscles
- Synthetic organ systems
- Pre-trained representations from internet videos (because YouTube is apparently now a robot training ground)
Current Star Product: Protoclone V1
Their flagship creation, the Protoclone V1, is what you’d get if you crossed a medical school skeleton with a high-tech water cooler:
| Feature | Count | Human Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic Muscles | 1,000 | Enough to make gym bros jealous |
| Biological-grade Joints | 200 | More than enough to creak dramatically |
| Sensors | 500 | Still can’t find the TV remote |
| Cooling System | 2L capacity | Literally sweats under pressure |
What’s Next: Clone Alpha
Coming in 2025, Clone Robotics plans to release 279 units of their Clone Alpha android. Features include:
- Pre-programmed household skills
- Enhanced hydraulic systems
- A price tag that will make your wallet sweat
The Verdict: Revolutionary or Just Really Cool?
Clone Robotics is either: a) Creating the future of human-robot interaction b) Building the world’s most sophisticated water fountains c) All of the above
What’s clear is that they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in robotics, even if those boundaries are currently limited to ceiling-mounted demonstrations and impressive muscle flexing.
Looking Ahead
As Clone Robotics moves forward with their synthetic human vision, a few questions remain:
- Will the Clone Alpha actually walk without flooding your house?
- Can it fold laundry without turning your shirts into origami?
- Will it join your gym and start posting workout videos?
Only time (and probably a lot more funding) will tell.