Polish-American startup Clone Robotics has released a new video of its Protoclone robot, which the company calls «the world’s first bipedal android with a musculoskeletal system.»
Polish-American startup Clone Robotics has released a new video of its Protoclone robot, which the company calls «the world’s first bipedal android with a musculoskeletal system.»
As Interesting Engineering notes, the faceless android, called Protoclone V1, has «over 200 degrees of freedom,» 1,000 myofibers, and 500 sensors, and is «anatomically accurate.» Clone Robotics says its Myofiber technology uses artificial muscles to move the skeleton, attaching them to precise bone points, just like animals.
The company entered the humanoid robotics market in December with Clone Alpha, its first full-scale humanoid robot prototype. The company also previously unveiled a humanoid torso capable of human-like movements.
A 40-second video posted on social media shows Protoclone hanging in a workshop performing various awkward movements. The robot currently uses pneumatics and has a 500-watt electric pump that circulates water much like a human heart pumps blood.
«Pneumatics are loud and typically exceed 86 decibels, while the Clone water pump operates at 36 decibels without any acoustic insulation,» the company explains, and says they plan to switch to hydraulics.
Protoclone, the world’s first bipedal, musculoskeletal android. pic.twitter.com/oIV1yaMSyE
— Clone (@clonerobotics) February 19, 2025
Clone Robotics claims to be the first bipedal android with a musculoskeletal system, although the JSK Laboratory at the University of Tokyo introduced a similar humanoid, Kengoro, back in 2017. However, Kengoro was developed as a research tool, while Clone Robotics is aiming for commercial applications.
Clone specializes in bimimetic robotics, while other companies like Tesla are building bots for household chores. The company was founded in 2021 to mimic the strength and agility of biological creatures, solving the difficult task of mimicking the human body.
Some social media users were concerned about the faceless android, with one asking the developers to «draw a smiley face» on its head to make it less creepy.
«While every normal person looks at dark sci-fi movies as cautionary tales, nerds see them as instruction manuals,» another commenter noted.
Protoclone has yet to demonstrate its ability to walk, unlike competing bots such as Elon Musk’s Optimus and Boston Dynamics' Atlas. However, compared to these competitors, Protoclone may have a more human-like body shape with realistic movements.
