Forget Tesla's Optimus: Renault's Robot Is Already Doing Backbreaking Work

"The first two-legged, headless robot is already hard at work putting tires on the conveyor belt that takes them to the assembly line. That number will go up to 350 in the following 18 months as Renault sets its plan to cut production hours per vehicle by 30% in motion."

"Developed by New York-based startup Wandercraft, the Calvin-40 robot can lift up to 90 pounds (40 kilograms) several hundred times a day without needing to rest. It has waist-mounted video cameras and uses LED lights to communicate its status."

"Calvin was designed to work independently and integrate safely and reliably into any industrial setting. This is the second generation of the robot, and its maker, Wandercraft, boasts that it was developed in just 40 days."

Renault is implementing humanoid robots developed by Wandercraft at its French electric vehicle factory to eliminate physically demanding tasks from workers' roles. The Calvin-40 robot, a headless two-legged machine capable of lifting 90 pounds repeatedly without fatigue, is being deployed in phases, with 350 units planned within 18 months. These robots use waist-mounted cameras and LED lights for communication. Designed for industrial integration rather than human-like appearance, the Calvin-40 was developed in 40 days as a second-generation model. Currently limited to tire and panel handling due to speed and dexterity constraints, the robots support Renault's strategy to reduce production hours per vehicle by 30% and cut costs by 20% over five years.

Read at insideevs.com