Robot.com launches wheeled humanoid for kitchens and warehouses

What happened?

Robot.com, the San Francisco startup formerly known as Kiwibot, has announced the launch of R-noid, a wheeled humanoid robot intended for work environments such as kitchens, warehouses, and healthcare facilities. According to the company's report to Business Insider, R-noid is designed to perform repetitive tasks like packing orders, loading and unloading boxes, and preparing workstations. CEO Felipe Chávez explained that the pivot responds to the need for more flexible solutions than the autonomous delivery robots that were previously their core business. Unlike the bipedal robots from Tesla or Figure AI, R-noid mounts a humanoid torso on a wheeled base, reducing costs and technical complexity. The company plans to test it in its own facilities and with selected partners during 2026, with no commercial launch date or public price yet.

Why is it important?

Robot.com's move reflects a broader trend in the robotics industry: purpose-specific robots (like delivery bots) are giving way to multipurpose humanoids that can adapt to different tasks. The decision to mount the humanoid torso on a wheeled base, rather than bipedal legs, reduces costs and technical complexity, which could accelerate commercial adoption. Moreover, the focus on kitchens and warehouses targets sectors with high employee turnover and difficulties filling positions, especially after the pandemic. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, turnover in the food and services industry reached 75% in 2023, while in warehouses the quit rate exceeds 50%. Robots like R-noid could ease hiring pressure, though their long-term impact on employment remains uncertain. The humanoid robot market, according to Goldman Sachs, could reach $6 billion by 2030, with applications in logistics, manufacturing, and services.

Historical context

Kiwibot was founded in 2017 as a university delivery robot startup, competing with Starship Technologies and Nuro. In 2025, it changed its name to Robot.com, seeking to reposition itself in the growing labor robot market. The company had deployed over 500 delivery robots on university campuses and in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, but faced limitations: autonomous delivery robots are slow, have low payload capacity, and depend on urban infrastructure. CEO Chávez acknowledged in interviews that the last-mile delivery market was saturated with tight margins. The announcement of R-noid comes at a time when companies like Tesla, Figure AI, and Agility Robotics are also developing humanoids, but most opt for bipedal designs, requiring years of R&D in balance and locomotion. Robot.com's bet on wheels could be a key differentiator in cost and deployment speed. While the Tesla Optimus is estimated to have a production cost of tens of thousands of dollars, R-noid, using a wheeled base, could be marketed at a significantly lower price, though Robot.com has not disclosed figures.

Consequences and outlook

If R-noid proves effective in real-world environments, it could pressure other manufacturers to consider hybrid designs. For warehouse operators and fast-food chains, the arrival of an affordable robot that is easy to integrate (without special infrastructure) could accelerate the automation of manual tasks. However, success will depend on Robot.com's ability to scale production and ensure safety in human-filled environments. The startup has raised about $50 million according to Crunchbase, a modest amount compared to Figure AI's $675 million or the billions invested by Amazon in robotics. To compete, Robot.com will need strategic partnerships or additional funding rounds. On the regulatory front, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not yet issued specific guidelines for humanoids in the workplace, which could delay mass adoption.

For readers, this is relevant because the automation of kitchens and warehouses directly impacts the employment of millions of workers worldwide. Although Robot.com claims its robots complement humans, previous experience in other industries suggests that automation tends to reduce demand for low-skilled labor. A 2023 MIT study found that each industrial robot per 1,000 workers reduces employment by 0.2% and wages by 0.42%. However, the pandemic accelerated robot adoption in warehouses: Amazon deployed over 750,000 mobile robots and robotic arms in 2024, according to its annual report. The difference with R-noid is its humanoid form, which allows it to use tools and workstations designed for humans without redesigning facilities.

“R-noid does not replace people but takes on the most tedious and repetitive tasks so that employees can focus on higher-value work,” Felipe Chávez told Business Insider.

What readers should know

R-noid does not yet have a commercial launch date or public price. Robot.com plans to test it in its own facilities and with selected partners during 2026. The startup has raised about $50 million so far, according to Crunchbase, and competes with giants like Amazon (which tests similar robots in its warehouses) and startups like Dexterity, which develops robotic arms for logistics. In contrast, Figure AI has already secured agreements with BMW to test its humanoids in manufacturing, while Agility Robotics has Digit working in Spanx warehouses. Robot.com, with its wheeled approach, seeks a niche of lower cost and greater indoor mobility. The news underscores the convergence between service robots and industrial robots, a market that Goldman Sachs says could reach $6 billion by 2030. For investors, Robot.com represents a high-risk bet with potential for disruption in a market dominated by more expensive bipedal designs. Readers should watch for pilot test results in 2026, which will determine whether R-noid is a viable alternative or just another experiment in the race for labor automation.