A robotics startup cofounder shares why most robots likely won't need legs (www.businessinsider.com)

Vivian Chu, cofounder and CTO of Diligent Robotics, argues that wheeled “minimum viable humanoids” like Moxi — a head, one or eventually two arms, and a wheelbase — will satisfy most real-world automation needs far sooner than two‑legged humanoid robots. Diligent has deployed more than 90 Moxi robots in 25+ hospitals, completing over 1.2 million deliveries and estimating roughly 500,000 human-hours saved by automating routine logistics (lab samples, supplies, telemetry boxes). The company intentionally chose a wheeled form factor because hospitals are ADA-compliant (ramps, elevators), retrofitting is costly, and a manipulator plus head lets the robot push buttons, perceive intent, and interact safely with staff and equipment. Technically and strategically, the argument highlights workflow-first robotics: stability, safety, and integration trump general-purpose bipedal mobility for many commercial settings. Moxi runs ~16 hours with smart charging (battery and power are primary bottlenecks as compute scales), uses its head-mounted sensors for manipulation and communication, and avoids the runtime/safety issues seen in some humanoid projects (~90-minute runtimes). Diligent’s roadmap focuses on more dexterity (second arm, assembling case carts), EHR/task integration, and conversational interfaces, while acknowledging legged robots remain relevant in niche domains (stairs, disaster response) rather than mainstream hospitals or warehouses.