Antonio from Nori Robotics introduces a $1,688 bimanual mobile robot designed for researchers and developers. Frustrated by the high cost of existing hardware during his time at Columbia, Antonio built the robot through seven iterations. The latest model features 19 degrees of freedom, two 7+1 DOF arms with a 1.5 kg payload, a 55 kg telescoping lift, and a differential wheeled base. It includes four 720p RGB cameras, a 2D lidar, and a dual microphone array. A key engineering decision to keep costs down involved using high-ratio servos instead of QDD motors and opting for a wheel base over legs. Assembled in San Francisco, the robot ships with an open SDK and a browser-based simulator. The hardware is currently capable of basic tasks like opening drawers and pouring drinks. Nori Robotics aims to eventually allow non-experts to teach and share tasks. The company sells the hardware for $1,688, with parts open source and optional paid software available.

Nori Robotics targets robotics developers and researchers seeking affordable hardware for large-scale dataset collection and experimentation. The open-source approach and low price point aim to democratize access to bipedal-like manipulation platforms. The robot represents a significant step toward accessible home robotics for the development community.