Meta and Fourier developed the humanoid robot prototype Max in three months of collaboration
The Information, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Meta has collaborated with the Shanghai robotics company Fourier to develop, in just three months, a humanoid robot prototype internally codenamed Max, approximately 1.5 meters tall and about 48 kilograms in weight, with a computing platform equipped with NVIDIA Jetson Thor. The two parties, building on Fourier's hardware accumulated over its first three generations, adjusted the body proportions, head structure, and cameras, and added a robotic hand and shoe structures; in September they also launched the Max 2 project, planning to redesign the torso, strengthen the robotic hand's manipulation, and add sensors to support going up and down stairs. Meta stated that the collaboration mainly focuses on internal research and experimentation, and that there are currently no plans to sell these prototypes.
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The report discloses that Meta and Fourier produced a humanoid robot prototype in three months, and provides the hardware configuration and subsequent Max 2 plans, allowing observation of their robotics R&D path.
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On November 3, The Information recently cited people familiar with the matter as saying that Meta has partnered with Shanghai robotics company Fourier to develop a humanoid robot prototype internally codenamed Max in just three months.
According to the leaked information, Max is about 1.5 meters tall and weighs about 48 kilograms. Its computing platform is equipped with NVIDIA Jetson Thor, its chest has two speakers, its face can simulate human expressions, and its five-fingered robotic hands can grasp small bottles, toys, and other objects.
In terms of hardware design, the two sides built on the hardware and technical accumulation of Fourier's first three generations of humanoid robots, adjusted the body proportions, head structure, display screen, and cameras, and added robotic hands and shoe structures.
During the project, Li-Chen Miller, Meta's vice president of product for robotics, was stationed at Fourier's Shanghai factory for nearly two months and directly participated in prototype development. At the end of August this year, Max was already demonstrated to some employees at Meta's internal robotics summit.
In September, the two sides launched the Max 2 project. The second-generation prototype plans to redesign the torso structure, strengthen the robotic hand's manipulation performance, add an additional projector, and also install sensors to support the robot in going up and down stairs.
At the same time, Meta is expanding recruitment in China for robotics R&D and manufacturing-related positions: it is recruiting a supplier development engineer in Shanghai, with a focus on advancing robots from the prototype stage to large-scale mass production; and it has opened positions in Shenzhen for a product design engineer and a technical project manager, covering areas such as prototype development, project planning, and implementation of mass production.
Regarding this cooperation, a Meta spokesperson, in response to The Information, said that when it comes to procuring components that are not easily obtainable in the United States, Meta faces the same reality as other companies in the industry.
At the same time, Meta emphasized that this cooperation with Fourier mainly focuses on internal research and experimentation, and there are currently no plans to sell these prototypes.
Fourier founder and CEO Gu Jie responded to domestic media on November 2 by saying that it was not convenient to comment at this time.
Public information shows that Fourier was founded in 2015 and initially focused on the development of rehabilitation robots and medical assistive devices, before later entering the general-purpose humanoid robot field. In 2023, Fourier launched its first general-purpose humanoid robot, GR-1, and subsequently released GR-2 and GR-3 in iterations.
According to its official website, as of now, Fourier's products and services have covered more than 40 countries and regions worldwide, serving more than 2,000 institutions and hospitals.