NEO

Humanoid Intelligence with a Human Touch. NEO is the world’s first soft-bodied, tendon-driven humanoid designed for safe, direct interaction in unstructured environments.

Key industrial use cases

Assistance, Home/Work Support

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Robot overview

NEO represents a radical departure from the "metal and gears" philosophy of most humanoids. Standing 5'6" (167 cm) and weighing just 66 lbs (30 kg), it is nearly 50% lighter than its competitors. Its design is based on "compliant mechanics," utilising a Tendon Drive system instead of traditional high-ratio gearboxes, allowing it to move with the fluidity and "give" of human muscle.

In 2026, NEO is being deployed through a phased "Early Access" program. While its primary marketing focuses on the home, its enterprise readiness is being proven in healthcare and logistics pilots. Managed via the 1X App, the robot utilises "Foundational Autonomy" for basic tasks but can be remotely guided by "1X Experts" through VR teleoperation to perform high-stakes or novel tasks, which then feeds into its continuous learning loop.

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Key

Technical Breakthroughs

Soft-Body Safety (HIC < 250): NEO features a 3D-lattice polymer "cushion" and a machine-washable nylon suit. This design ensures that if a collision occurs, the force is absorbed by the robot's soft exterior, making it the only humanoid currently rated for safe operation in sensitive environments like nursery schools or retirement homes.
OpenAI "Embodied Intelligence": Through its deep partnership with OpenAI, NEO runs a customized Large Multimodal Model (LMM) that allows it to reason through tasks. It can understand a vague command like "Tidy the coffee table" and autonomously decide how to sort items, open the dishwasher, or place dirty laundry in a basket.
22-DoF Human-Level Hands: Each of NEO's hands has 22 degrees of freedom, mirroring human dexterity. The fingers are IP68-rated (fully submersible), allowing it to perform tasks in water, such as scrubbing dishes or handling wet materials in a lab setting.
Ultra-Quiet Operation (22 dB): Unlike the whirring of hydraulic or loud gear-driven robots, NEO operates at a volume quieter than a modern refrigerator. This makes it ideal for enterprise settings where noise pollution is a factor, such as quiet office spaces or overnight hospital shifts.

Deployment

+ Scalability

Early Access Launch (2026): Production is scaling at 1X's dedicated facility in Moss, Norway. Initial deliveries began in early 2026 for U.S. and Scandinavian markets.
1X World Model: In January 2026, 1X released its "World Model" update, enabling NEO to learn new tasks - like ironing or brushing hair - simply by watching video footage, significantly reducing the time needed for enterprise-specific training.
Health & Elder Care Pilots: NEO is currently being used in pilot programs at Oslo’s Sunrise Retirement Home, where it assists caregivers with non-medical tasks like fetching water, tidying rooms, and providing companionship, reportedly reducing caregiver injury rates by 40%.
"Expert-in-the-Loop" Support: To ensure enterprise reliability, 1X offers a "Scheduled Expert Mode." If a robot encounters a task it hasn't mastered, a remote human operator can take control via VR to complete the task and provide the training data needed for the robot to do it autonomously next time.

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The Robot Group is an independent adviser. Brand names and products are referenced for comparison.
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