Sanctuary AI has just announced a groundbreaking deal with Magna, the Austria-based manufacturer of luxurious cars for European automakers like Mercedes, Jaguar, and BMW. This deal will see the deployment of Sanctuary AI’s humanoid robot to a Magna manufacturing facility, though the precise number of robots involved remains undisclosed. This is par for the course for big business deals like this.
The news comes hot on the heels of similar deals between automakers and other humanoid robot companies, with Figure partnering with BMW and Apptronik collaborating with Mercedes. Additionally, Agility made headlines when it announced a deal with Ford at CES 2020 to use its Digit units for last-mile deliveries. However, Agility has since shifted its focus to warehouse deployments, working with companies like Amazon.
Interestingly, Magna had already invested in Sanctuary AI back in 2021 – right around the same time that Elon Musk announced plans to build a humanoid robot for Tesla factories, which would later be known as Optimus. However, Sanctuary AI had already unveiled its own model, Phoenix, in May of that same year. Standing at 5’7” and weighing 155 pounds, Phoenix is a pretty standard size for humanoid robots.
While Phoenix isn’t Sanctuary AI’s first humanoid robot (an earlier version had been used by a Canadian retailer), it is the first to have the ability to walk on legs. Most videos showcasing the system only focus on its torso, but the company has also put emphasis on the development of dexterous hands – an essential feature for a robot that may need to do more than just move objects around.
Sanctuary AI’s pilot program with Magna, called a “multi-disciplinary assessment,” aims to improve the cost and scalability of robotics using Magna’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities. It also involves a strategic equity investment by Magna, solidifying the partnership between the two companies.
As with any pilot program, it’s important to remember that these are just initial tests. While they may not necessarily validate the effectiveness of humanoid robots, they do serve as a significant step towards potential future applications. Ultimately, it all comes down to ROI (return on investment) for Magna – if the company sees the value in these robots, we may see more of them deployed in the future.
The specific details of this deal, such as the exact number of robots involved, the duration of the pilot program, and the specific manufacturing facility where they will be used, have not been disclosed by the company.
