"Unitree Robotics USA" releases Figure 03: skilled at cleaning the house, doing laundry, and delivering packages.

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When a robot can clean a room, fold clothes, and use a dishwasher, can humans hand over housework to robots?

"America's Unitree," humanoid robot company Figure AI, has released its latest product, Figure 03. On October 9, the company released a video showing Figure 03 performing a series of household tasks, including clearing plates from the table, wiping debris, folding shirts, and even interacting with a pet dog.

In the video, it carefully picks up plates from the table, sweeps up crumbs with one hand while the other hand catches them underneath.

When handling dishes, it slowly rinses the plates and then accurately places them in the dishwasher.

It can even complete relatively complex tasks such as folding shirts, doing laundry, tidying up toys, and fetching packages. Although its postures may seem a bit "awkward" or "semi-squatting" to humans, this may be the optimal path determined by its algorithm.

For safety, Figure 03's movement speed in the home is set to a slow 2.6 miles per hour. It can automatically leave the wireless charging pad and start working, with a single charge supporting about five hours of operation.

The realization of these abilities in Figure 03 is due to major hardware upgrades, especially the new dexterous hand design integrated with tactile sensors and cameras.

This progress also landed Figure 03 on the cover of TIME Magazine’s 2025 Best Inventions list, sparking widespread discussion in the market about the home robot revolution.

However, TIME also pointed out that the robot will not be ready for home use at its release. At present, Figure AI has not announced a release date or pricing for Figure 03; analysts believe early application scenarios are more likely in factories rather than homes.

Hardware Upgrades Optimized for Multiple Scenarios

To better integrate into the home environment, Figure 03 underwent significant design optimizations.

According to the company, the robot's body is almost entirely covered in soft knitted and textile fabrics, while joints are padded with foam to prevent pinching or accidental bumps.

Compared with the previous generation, its overall weight has been reduced by 9%, and it takes up less space, allowing it to move more flexibly in narrow areas.

Additionally, new battery safety protection and wireless inductive charging (connecting via coils in the feet and the charging pad) also enhance its indoor safety and convenience.

For industrial applications, Figure 03 has also been completely redesigned. Its actuators operate faster and with more power, meeting the repetitive or high-speed movement demands of warehouses or production lines.

Dexterous Hands and AI Visual System as Key Breakthroughs

One of the most notable upgrades in Figure 03 is its brand-new hand system. The redesigned dual hands are equipped with tactile sensors that enable the fingertips to sense even the slightest pressure, allowing for safe handling of fragile or irregularly shaped objects. In the video, the robot sweeps debris from the tabletop with one hand and catches it with the other—a demonstration of this ability.

In addition, each palm now has a camera, providing the robot with close-up perspectives when manipulating objects, so it can function even if the main camera is obstructed (such as when reaching into cupboards). This visual data is combined with the company’s proprietary “Helix” vision-language-action AI system, helping the robot adjust its actions in real time in complex environments.

The rapid development of Figure 03 is inseparable from the promotion of generative AI. According to company data, the robot integrates OpenAI’s models and NVIDIA’s robotics tech stack, enabling it not only to understand verbal instructions but also to learn new tasks by observing human behavior. This AI-driven learning ability is the core of its rapid mastery of complex skills like folding clothes and washing dishes.

Commercialization Path: Factories First, Homes May Be Far Off

Although Figure 03 demonstrates huge potential for entering homes, its commercial prospects remain unclear.

Figure AI has not provided any timeline or specific pricing for home delivery, with widespread outside estimates that it may cost tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, the market speculates the robot is more likely to be deployed in industrial scenarios first.

Currently, competition in the humanoid robot track is intense, including not only Figure AI but also Tesla’s Optimus, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, and China’s Unitree G1.

As Figure AI itself admitted last year, the entire industry "faces high risks and extremely low chances of success." In the short term, cost, safety, and technical maturity remain the main barriers to humanoid robots entering thousands of households. But in the long run, as technology continues to iterate, home robot assistants like Figure 03 may become a way of life for future generations.

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