Delivery robot startup Robot.com is betting its next act on workplace humanoids (www.businessinsider.com)

Delivery robot startup Robot.com is venturing into the development of workplace humanoids with R-noid, a new robot designed to automate repetitive tasks in industrial, food service, and logistics environments. Formerly known as Kiwibot, the San Francisco-based company aims to leverage its existing delivery robot infrastructure to transition into commercial labor automation. CEO Felipe Chavez noted that R-noid can perform various tasks, including packaging orders and loading boxes, with current deployments at around a dozen locations, such as Harbor Links Golf Course in New York. This pivot is significant as it highlights the growing trend of integrating robotics into everyday workplace operations, expanding the utility of robots beyond delivery to a broad range of labor-intensive roles. Working in collaboration with Physical Intelligence, Robot.com is developing custom foundation models specifically for R-noid, enhancing its operational capabilities. The initial deployment timeline for R-noid is eight to twelve weeks, involving extensive data collection to fine-tune its performance. With an operational goal of 70% autonomy at launch, these developments underscore Robot.com's commitment to delivering practical automation solutions that could improve worker satisfaction and reduce labor costs.