Summary:

 

Yogi is a compact, emotionally expressive humanoid robot developed by Cartwheel Robotics, a Nevada‑based startup founded by Scott LaValley (formerly Boston Dynamics + Disney Imagineering).  

 

Designed for home companionship, Yogi emphasizes natural movement, emotional presence, soft materials, and safe interaction, rather than industrial strength or factory automation.  

 

The robot features soft silicone skin, fluid embodied‑AI motion, and human‑like gestures intended to create genuine emotional connection.

 

Cartwheel Robotics shut down in February 2026, making Yogi one of the most promising—but short‑lived—home‑humanoid projects.

 

Editorial:

 

Yogi was built around a simple idea: a humanoid robot people actually want to live with.  

While most humanoid companies chase industrial markets, Cartwheel focused on warmth, safety, and emotional intelligence. Yogi’s soft silicone skin, toddler‑like proportions, and expressive motion system were engineered to feel gentle, non‑threatening, and relatable.

 

The robot’s embodied‑AI stack allowed it to move with smooth, lifelike gestures, maintain eye contact, and respond intuitively to human presence.  

Its design philosophy placed it closer to Ameca or Misty II than to industrial robots like Figure 02 or Tesla Optimus.

 

Despite strong engineering and public interest, Cartwheel Robotics closed in early 2026 after failing to secure manufacturing capital—an example of the “humanoid startup valley of death.”

 

Specifications:

 

Dimensions & Build

(Exact numbers not published.)  

- Height: Toddler‑proportioned compact humanoid  

- Weight: Not published  

- Design Intent: Safe, emotionally expressive home companion  

- Construction:  

  - Soft medical‑grade silicone skin  

  - Custom high‑torque actuators  

  - Soft‑goods joint covers  

  - Embodied‑AI motion system  

 

Mobility

- Locomotion: Bipedal walking  

- Capabilities:  

  - Smooth, natural movement  

  - Human‑like gesture timing  

  - Safe indoor navigation  

  - Light household‑task motion  

 

Degrees of Freedom

(Not published.)  

- Full humanoid DOF distribution  

- Expressive head + upper‑body motion  

- Soft‑interaction‑optimized joints  

 

Actuation

- Actuator Type: Custom high‑torque electric actuators  

- Capabilities:  

  - Smooth, lifelike motion  

  - Safe, predictable interaction  

  - Overload‑protected joints  

 

Manipulation

(Light‑duty household tasks only.)  

- Picking up toys  

- Greeting guests  

- Simple fetch/assist behaviors  

 

Perception & Sensors

(Not fully published.)  

Likely includes:  

- Vision system for interaction  

- Proximity + safety sensing  

- Embodied‑AI motion feedback  

 

Compute & AI

- AI Focus: Emotional presence + natural movement  

- Capabilities:  

  - Embodied‑AI gesture generation  

  - Human‑interaction timing  

  - Adaptive household‑task behavior  

 

Battery & Power

(Not published.)

 

Connectivity

- Home‑robot integration  

- Research‑platform interfaces  

 

Applications

- Home companionship  

- Family‑friendly assistance  

- Guest greeting  

- Research in embodied‑AI motion  

- Emotional‑presence robotics  

 

Status

- Prototype only  

- Company shut down February 2026  

 

Pricing

- Never commercially released

 

Cartwheel Robotics did NOT publish:  

- Height/weight  

- DOF breakdown  

- Torque curves  

- Sensor specs  

- Battery capacity  

- Environmental ratings  

 

Image: @GlobalTechTrends

 

Company Source:

 

https://www.cartwheelrobotics.com/

 

Key News & Coverage:

 

https://youtu.be/LuK92qIMzdY?si=IyQi4pjtrNiO1GrX