Want to hear about a creepy tech? A robotic company, called Clone (or Clone Robotics), has revealed an incredible android that uses artificial muscles just like humans rely on muscle for movements. Meet the Torso, a bimanual android upper body with artificial muscles that are remarkably close to the real thing and pull off movements servos and traditional actuators cannot. And yes, I do find it as creepy as it is cool.
This isn’t just a static piece either: it’s equipped with a flexible neck, shoulders that replicate every joint humans have (sternoclavicular to glenohumeral, for those in the know), and an elbow with movement range to rival your own. Compact hydraulics sit neatly within the ribcage, and Clone’s “bimanual manipulation training” is already underway—basically, this torso could someday reach out and actually hold your beer.
For a company that’s been tinkering with robotic limbs for eight years, Clone is banking on hydraulics and biomimicry to make the most lifelike androids yet. Their Clone Hand, powered by proprietary artificial muscles, is supposedly ten times stronger than most robotic hands and mimics human movement with eerie accuracy. They’re aiming for androids that will someday handle your mundane chores or assist in actual hands-on tasks. Just maybe not next year.
As thrilling as the video is, we maintain our rights to invoke the skepticism card. Sure, the CTO Łukasz Koźlik may have developed a functional artificial muscles robotic arm with a full range of motion but with videos floating around in 720p (odd for such advanced tech), it is hard not to take Torso with a pinch of salt.
In the AI-generated video age, there’s a chance we’re looking at a clever AI-generated demo rather than a hands-on showcase. In an era where even “real” can be digitally enhanced, perhaps Clone’s androids are closer to an exciting possibility than a household reality. We just hope that if this is real, this isn’t going to be Cyberdyne Systems Model 1 and there also isn’t a Skynet or Kororo being developed.
In any case, Clone is clearly determined to push boundaries, whether it’s for the robots of tomorrow or a very convincing YouTube clip today. But if this is the future, best to start practicing how to make peace with your new robo-roommate. So, next time, if the vending machine fails to eject your purchase, do not curse at it.
Images: Clone.