Meet Yogi: The Soft-Touch Housebot Built to Feel Human, Not Replace You
While Tesla and others chase factory efficiency, Cartwheel Robotics is betting big on something far more personal, a humanoid that can actually connect with people. Their upcoming creation, Yogi, might just mark the beginning of humanoids designed not for assembly lines, but for living rooms.
From Industrial Efficiency to Emotional Intelligence
Most major humanoid projects, from Tesla’s Optimus to Figure 02, are built with performance, precision, and productivity in mind. But Cartwheel Robotics, a portfolio company of Humanoid Global Holdings Corp., is taking a different approach.
Yogi is being developed with a focus on human connection, designed to move naturally, communicate intuitively, and even offer comfort through its design. Built with medical-grade silicone and soft protective materials, Yogi aims to be safe to touch and pleasant to be around — an approachable companion, not an intimidating machine.
Thoughtful Design Meets Engineering Discipline
Under the soft shell is serious engineering. Yogi features a modular, swappable battery system for all-day operation and precision high-torque actuators with overload protection for smooth, lifelike motion.
According to Scott LaValley, CEO of Cartwheel Robotics, “Yogi is being developed not only as a companion but also as a capable assistant for light tasks in homes and workplaces — designed to remain intuitive, approachable, and reliable.”
The company’s proprietary full-stack humanoid platform integrates custom hardware, AI motion models, and adaptive software that allow Yogi to react in “genuinely human ways.”
Built for Homes, Not Factories
While Elon Musk’s Tesla Optimus robot continues to face delays and doubts around factory practicality, Cartwheel is zeroing in on the home robotics revolution. The company envisions Yogi as an emotionally intelligent helper capable of supporting elderly care, healthcare environments, or even children’s education.
“By emphasizing trust, functionality, and usability, they’re helping advance the field from mechanical experimentation toward practical human interaction,” said Shahab Samimi, CEO of Humanoid Global.
Next Stop: The Humanoids Summit
Cartwheel Robotics is expanding into a new Reno, Nevada facility, set to open in early 2026, and plans to unveil its full-body walking Yogi prototype at the Humanoids Summit in Silicon Valley this December.
The company has also been in early talks with a major North American medical institution for potential healthcare pilot projects, as well as several universities for research collaborations.
The Future of Human-Centric Robotics
While industrial robotics still dominates the conversation, the pendulum is swinging toward humanoids designed for companionship and care.
If Yogi lives up to its promise, a blend of emotional presence and technical precision, Cartwheel Robotics could help usher in the next era of humanoids: not cold machines replacing people, but warm-hearted robots enhancing human life.