Figure 03

Figure 03, unveiled by Figure AI on October 9, 2025, marks a pivotal advancement in humanoid robotics, transitioning from laboratory prototypes to scalable, general-purpose machines designed for homes and commercial environments. This third-generation robot is purpose-built around Helix, Figure's proprietary vision-language-action (VLA) AI model, which unifies perception, high-level reasoning, and low-level control into a single end-to-end system. Helix leverages an open-source, open-weight vision-language model (VLM) backbone, trained on vast datasets for semantic understanding and visuomotor control, running entirely on-board dual low-power embedded GPUs under Ubuntu Linux LTS with real-time kernel components. This architecture enables 200 Hz low-level control loops and glass-to-action latencies reduced by a factor of four compared to prior generations, facilitating fluid, adaptive behaviors in dynamic settings. Physically, Figure 03 stands 168 cm tall, weighs 60 kg (9% lighter than Figure 02), and supports a 20 kg payload with a top walking speed of 4.3 km/h. It boasts 30 degrees of freedom overall, including 20 in the highly dexterous hands with 10 fingers each. The propulsion system employs custom frameless brushless DC (BLDC) motors paired with strain-wave (harmonic) and cycloidal gearboxes for high torque density and 2x faster actuator speeds. Structural elements include stamped steel and die-cast aluminum for the battery enclosure, bonded with structural adhesives, while the exterior features washable soft textiles, multi-density foam padding to mitigate pinch hazards, and customizable clothing options for branding or durability. The sensory suite is state-of-the-art: a next-generation vision system with six RGB cameras (head, front/back torso) delivering 2x frame rates, 1/4 latency, 60% wider field-of-view (FoV) per camera, and expanded depth of field in a compact form factor. Each hand integrates a palm-mounted camera for low-latency, close-range visual feedback during manipulation in occluded spaces. First-generation in-house tactile sensors on fingertips detect forces as low as 3 grams—comparable to a paperclip—enabling precise, slip-resistant grasps on diverse objects. Upgraded audio hardware includes a speaker twice the size and 4x more powerful than predecessors, with repositioned microphones for superior speech-to-speech reasoning and natural interaction. Power management centers on the F.03 battery: 2.3 kWh capacity providing 5 hours of peak runtime, with 2 kW wireless inductive charging via foot coils and simultaneous mmWave data offload at 10 Gbps for fleet-wide learning. Safety is paramount, with multi-layer protections including custom BMS (overcharge/discharge/temperature/short-circuit safeguards), UN38.3/UL2271-certified cells, fusible interconnects, flame-arrestor vents, and potting compounds preventing thermal propagation or external flames during faults. Active cooling via integrated die-cast channels supports fast charging. Real-world deployment history builds on Figure 02's BMW factory pilots, where robots performed autonomous tasks like part handling. Figure 03 demos showcase long-horizon autonomy in homes—laundry, dishwashing, cleaning—without teleoperation, navigating stairs, tight spaces, and clutter. Production at the BotQ facility targets 12,000 units/year initially, scaling to 100,000 over four years via vertically integrated supply chains, die-casting, and AI-assisted assembly, slashing costs dramatically. This positions Figure 03 as a commercially viable teammate, adaptable via continuous data-driven Helix evolution for industries and households alike. (748 words)