NORI ROBOTICS LAUNCHES $1,688 HUMANOID FOR DEVELOPERS

Founded by Antonio, a roboticist who previously worked on human demonstration learning at Columbia University, Nori addresses a core problem in robotics research: expensive hardware limits dataset collection and experimentation. Most research labs operate with one or two costly robots, restricting their ability to run parallel experiments, gather large datasets, or test algorithms across multiple units. Nori's affordable option democratizes access to bimanual mobile hardware. The robot features dual arms and mobility, positioning it for manipulation tasks and development work. The startup operates out of San Francisco and is accepting applications from researchers and developers interested in early access. The launch represents an emerging trend in robotics: reducing hardware costs to accelerate research and enable broader adoption. Nori competes in an increasingly crowded space of affordable robot platforms targeting academic and hobbyist markets.