Fauna Emerges from Stealth, Ships Safe Sprout to Disney, Boston Dynamics

Stealth Exit Unveiled

Fauna Robotics bursts onto the scene after years in stealth mode, announcing immediate shipments of its flagship Sprout humanoid to high-profile clients including Disney and Boston Dynamics. This move signals confidence in Sprout's safety-first design, tailored for close human proximity in entertainment and advanced research settings. Developers and enterprises now gain access to a platform reimagining humanoid deployment beyond isolated labs, positioning Fauna as a disruptor in accessible robotics. Early deliveries underscore Sprout's readiness for real-world testing, with partners leveraging its approachable form to pioneer interactive applications.

Interaction Redefined

Sprout captivates with social expressiveness, featuring articulated eyebrows, a full-color 360-degree facial LED array, and a 2-DoF neck that convey intent during conversations. Dual high-fidelity speakers paired with a directional four-microphone array enable natural voice exchanges, drawing people closer rather than pushing them away. This design shifts humanoids from industrial tools to companions, fostering seamless collaboration in dynamic environments. Fauna's emphasis on inviting interactions marks a departure from rigid machines, inviting developers to craft empathetic behaviors that enhance everyday human experiences.

Compliant Engineering Wins

Engineers at Fauna prioritized compliance throughout Sprout's 29 degrees of freedom, integrating back-drivable motors and force-limiting controls that yield to human touch. A soft, deformable exterior eliminates pinch points, while tiered safety layers including onboard collision detection ensure operation amid crowds. Powered by NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin compute, the robot handles perception and planning onboard, reducing latency for fluid responses. This lightweight architecture, honed through simulation, balances durability with low kinetic energy, enabling safe agility in shared spaces without heavy safeguards.

Deployment Horizons Expand

Sprout targets household assistance, retail tasks, and research into manipulation and task planning, carrying small objects like groceries or prototypes with its 6-DoF arms and robust grippers. In Disney environments, it could animate character interactions; for Boston Dynamics collaborators, it offers a testbed for advanced locomotion algorithms. Developers access ROS2-compatible Python APIs for custom voice interfaces and modular autonomy, accelerating breakthroughs in bipedal navigation via indoor visual SLAM. These applications transform Sprout from prototype to practical aide in homes and labs alike.

Dexterity Enablers Detailed

Standing at 107 cm tall and weighing just 22.7 kg, Sprout's bipedal legs with 5 DoF deliver 0.8 m/s walks, enabling it to navigate homes gracefully while maintaining balance for extended interactions. ZED 2i stereoscopic vision and four time-of-flight sensors fuse with torso IMU for precise object grasping, empowering dexterity with small household items. A directional microphone array and speakers support immersive voice sessions, backed by swappable batteries for 3-3.5 hour runtimes. Compliant motors and soft surfaces ensure safe, natural human contact during collaborative tasks.

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