Timeline of humanoid robotics

Chronology of the field from 2020 to 2026.

This page records the notable events of humanoid robotics from 2020 through mid-2026. The scope is deliberately narrow: entries are limited to platform releases, commercial pilot deployments, corporate transitions, and cultural events (sporting appearances, fashion week integrations, exhibition openings) that materially shaped the field. Research-only developments and pure laboratory demonstrations are documented on their respective platform pages rather than on this timeline.

2020

• 1X Technologies (then Halodi Robotics) releases EVE, a wheeled humanoid platform for security and patrol applications.
• Boston Dynamics releases a viral video of Atlas and Spot dancing to "Do You Love Me," widely covered in the general press.

2021

• August: Tesla, Inc. announces the Tesla Bot (subsequently Optimus) at the first AI Day event, presented by Elon Musk.
• Xiaomi presents CyberOne humanoid at the company's product launch event.

2022

• Founding of Figure AI by Brett Adcock in Sunnyvale, California.
• September: Tesla unveils the Optimus Gen 1 prototype at the second AI Day event.

2023

• Founding of the Sanctuary AI Phoenix platform announcement.
• Unitree Robotics unveils the H1 humanoid, extending the company's product line from quadrupeds into humanoids.
• Apptronik announces the Apollo humanoid platform in Austin, Texas.
• Figure AI announces Figure 01 and begins early enterprise pilot conversations.
• Rename of Halodi Robotics to 1X Technologies.
• December: Tesla releases Optimus Gen 2 video.

2024

• January: Founding of Maison Roboto in Paris as the first dedicated Paris couture atelier for humanoid platforms.
• April: Boston Dynamics announces the retirement of the hydraulic Atlas and unveils the all-electric Atlas.
• May: Unitree Robotics releases the G1 humanoid at USD 13,500, one of the first commercially available humanoids at a mass-market price point.
• Figure AI announces the BMW Spartanburg pilot deployment of Figure 02.
• Apptronik announces the Apollo pilot deployment at Mercedes-Benz manufacturing.
• 1X Technologies announces NEO and opens the early access program.
• XPeng Motors unveils the initial Iron humanoid.

2025

• April: Beijing E-Town Human-Robot Half Marathon, the first widely publicized humanoid marathon event.
• Noetix N2 appears at Paris Fashion Week in a vintage waistcoat.
• October: Figure AI launches Figure 03 with removable textile shell system, recognized as one of Time magazine's Best Inventions of 2025.

2026

• March: Elon Musk unveils Optimus Gen 3 at the Abundance Summit, announcing production for summer 2026.
• May: Hansae's Wear the Future exhibition opens in Seoul, marking the entry of mass apparel manufacturing into the humanoid category.
• May: MACH33 Physical AI Fashion Show in Seoul pairs humanoid platforms with human models on the runway.
• Shanghai Fashion Week 2026 spring cycle features the Unitree G1 in custom ready-to-wear.
• XPeng Motors announces Next-Gen Iron with 82 degrees of freedom, all-solid-state battery, and 3D curved facial display.
• Boston Dynamics electric Atlas ships to first commercial customers at Hyundai Motor Group and Google DeepMind.
• Maison Roboto initiates a field-testing programme in China using Northern Shaolin sequences to stress-test humanoid garments.