Cartwheel Robotics
Cartwheel Robotics was a US start-up that set out to build small, expressive humanoid robots designed to be lovable companions rather than industrial workers. It was founded in 2021 by Scott LaValley, who previously worked for nearly a decade on Atlas at Boston Dynamics and led the team behind Disney's expressive Baby Groot robot. Cartwheel's flagship prototype, Yogi, had toddler-like proportions, with a large head and rounded body, and was meant to appear friendly and approachable; a second platform, Speedy, was a customisable commercial robot. The company developed a motion language model that turned text and voice commands into expressive robot behaviour, and it planned early deployments in museums and science centres before homes. Cartwheel left stealth in May 2025 and raised a seed round in June 2025, with about US$3 million in outside capital overall and a team of seven. In February 2026 LaValley announced that the company was shutting down after failing to find the right capital partner.
💡Notable Achievement: Founded by a veteran Disney Imagineer who worked on the Baby Groot and Stuntronics projects, Cartwheel Robotics developed Yogi—a humanoid built with toddler-like proportions engineered to grow and learn alongside human families before the startup ceased operations in early 2026.
What Does Cartwheel Robotics Do?
Cartwheel Robotics set out to solve the critical human element of domestic robotics: making bipedal humanoids safe, approachable, and endearing enough to live alongside families and children. Founded by former Boston Dynamics and Disney roboticist Scott LaValley, Cartwheel rejected intimidating full-size metallic figures in favor of Yogi, a robot proportioned like a walking toddler with soft contours and expressive body language. While industrial competitors focused on manufacturing factories, Cartwheel focused on social companionship and domestic assistance. Although the startup closed in 2026 amid the humanoid 'valley of death,' its pioneering work proved that compliance, character physics, and toddler-scale aesthetics represent a vital blueprint for future consumer robotics.
“Cartwheel Robotics reimagined domestic humanoids with approachable toddler-proportioned bipedal robots designed for safe family interaction.”
Toddler-Scale Ergonomics
Engineered humanoids standing roughly 3 feet tall to eliminate physical intimidation and drastically reduce kinetic injury risk in home environments.
Disney-Caliber Expressive Motion
Leveraged character physics and compliant gait kinematics to communicate intention and warmth through natural body language.
Inherent Physical Compliance
Constructed soft-skinned, pinch-free mechanical limbs with torque-limiting actuators that yield instantly upon contact with children or pets.
What Can Cartwheel Robotics Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Cartwheel Robotics created toddler-proportioned bipedal companion robots for interactive and home environments.
Safe Compliant Bipedal Walking
Stable dynamic walking designed for carpeted floors, tile, and gentle domestic thresholds without tipping.
Child-Safe Soft Touch Interaction
Soft-padded exterior shells and force-limited fingers allowing safe handshakes, hand-holding, and hugging.
Expressive Non-Verbal Communication
Communicates mood, curiosity, and attention through head tilts, body swaying, and friendly auditory tones.
Cartwheel Robotics Robots
Showing 1 Humanoid Robots of 1 total model
Yogi
Manufactured by Cartwheel Robotics
Yogi by Cartwheel Robotics is a mid-size bipedal humanoid robot designed for safe, autonomous interaction in human environments. It combines advanced locomotion, expressive motion, and AI-driven perception to navigate indoor spaces, communicate naturally, and assist with tasks requiring physical engagement. Yogi’s design emphasizes safety with soft exteriors and responsive control systems. Its capabilities include dynamic walking balance, autonomous path planning, and gesture recognition. Yogi supports research, service automation, and human-robot collaboration, blending mobility, manipulation, and interactive intelligence for real-world robotics applications.
Cartwheel Robotics Software & AI Ecosystem
Developer platforms, fleet management portals, autonomy intelligence, and enterprise integrations
Cartwheel GaitEngine
Compliant Low-Center-of-Mass Locomotion
Dynamic balance controller maintaining upright stability and gentle fall-recovery postures.
Yogi Social AI
Family Engagement & Vision Tracking
Multimodal person-tracking and gesture recognition layer allowing the robot to recognize family members.
Cartwheel Robotics Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Cartwheel Robotics founded
Former Boston Dynamics and Disney engineer Scott LaValley founds Cartwheel Robotics to build friendly, expressive humanoids.
Source: automate.org
Emerges from stealth with Yogi
Cartwheel Robotics steps out of stealth, showing its Yogi companion humanoid and its Speedy commercial platform.
Source: humanoidsdaily.com
Seed funding round
Cartwheel Robotics raises a seed funding round to continue developing its Yogi humanoid.
Source: tracxn.com
Company shuts down
Founder Scott LaValley announces that Cartwheel Robotics is closing after failing to find the right capital partner.
Source: humanoidsdaily.com
Cartwheel Robotics Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
SoftBank Robotics
→Model: NAO
Focus: Small educational and research bipedal humanoid
Sony
Industry PeerModel: Aibo
Focus: Autonomous quadruped robotic companion for domestic homes
Groove X
→Model: LOVOT
Focus: Emotional domestic companion robot on wheels
What Makes Cartwheel Robotics Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Uniquely approachable toddler-proportioned aesthetic that eliminated fear of humanoids
- ✓Exceptional character animation and kinematic pedigree from Disney Imagineering
- ✓Strong focus on household and child safety
Core Strategic Focus
Ceased operations in February 2026; intellectual property and design principles remain benchmark case studies for consumer humanoids.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •High cost of consumer bipedal manufacturing relative to mass-market consumer willingness to pay
- •Venture funding headwinds for early-stage consumer humanoid startups competing against industrial-backed giants
Cartwheel Robotics vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Form Factor
- Yogi (Cartwheel)
- Toddler Biped Humanoid
- NAO (SoftBank)
- Small Biped Humanoid
- LOVOT (Groove X)
- Wheeled Soft Companion
- BD-X (Disney)
- Biped Character Droid
Mobility Type
- Yogi (Cartwheel)
- Dynamic Bipedal Walking
- NAO (SoftBank)
- Kinematic Bipedal Walking
- LOVOT (Groove X)
- Retractable Wheels
- BD-X (Disney)
- Dynamic Bipedal Walking
Target Market
- Yogi (Cartwheel)
- Home & Companionship
- NAO (SoftBank)
- Education & Research
- LOVOT (Groove X)
- Emotional Companion
- BD-X (Disney)
- Theme Park Entertainment
Current Status
- Yogi (Cartwheel)
- Discontinued (2026)
- NAO (SoftBank)
- Active Commercial
- LOVOT (Groove X)
- Active Commercial
- BD-X (Disney)
- Active Theme Park Testing
| Strategic Dimension | Yogi (Cartwheel) | NAO (SoftBank) | LOVOT (Groove X) | BD-X (Disney) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Toddler Biped Humanoid | Small Biped Humanoid | Wheeled Soft Companion | Biped Character Droid |
| Mobility Type | Dynamic Bipedal Walking | Kinematic Bipedal Walking | Retractable Wheels | Dynamic Bipedal Walking |
| Target Market | Home & Companionship | Education & Research | Emotional Companion | Theme Park Entertainment |
| Current Status | Discontinued (2026) | Active Commercial | Active Commercial | Active Theme Park Testing |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Cartwheel Robotics Headquarters
HQFallon, Nevada, United States
Articles & Industry News
Showing 1 recent article and news updates about Cartwheel Robotics
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Cartwheel Robotics
What was Cartwheel Robotics?
Cartwheel Robotics was a US start-up, founded in 2021, that built small, expressive humanoid robots designed to be lovable companions, starting with a prototype called Yogi.
Is Cartwheel Robotics still in business?
No. In February 2026 founder Scott LaValley announced that Cartwheel Robotics was shutting down because it had not found the right capital partner to bridge the gap between its progress and its potential.
Who founded Cartwheel Robotics?
Cartwheel Robotics was founded by Scott LaValley, who worked for nearly a decade on Atlas at Boston Dynamics and led the team behind Disney's expressive Baby Groot robot, with his sister Samantha LaValley as co-founder.
What was the Yogi robot?
Yogi was Cartwheel's small companion humanoid with toddler-like proportions, a large head and a rounded body, designed to appear friendly and approachable rather than intimidating.
What was the Speedy robot?
Speedy was Cartwheel Robotics' customisable commercial robot platform, shown alongside the Yogi companion humanoid when the company left stealth in May 2025.
What technology did Cartwheel Robotics develop?
Cartwheel developed a motion language model that turned text and voice commands into expressive robot behaviour, giving its robots personality and lifelike movement.
How much funding did Cartwheel Robotics raise?
Cartwheel raised a seed round in June 2025 and about US$3 million in outside capital in total, with a team of seven people.
What was the commercial timeline and operational status of Cartwheel Robotics?
Cartwheel left stealth in May 2025, planned early deployments in museums and science centres before homes, and raised a seed round in June 2025. It shut down in February 2026 before Yogi became a commercial product.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Cartwheel Robotics datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.