Robots come in many forms—some dazzle on TV shows, while others meet a tragic end minutes after activation. Meet Clone, a bipedal, muscle-driven humanoid robot that looks eerily like a real human. But is this a breakthrough in robotics or something out of a sci-fi horror movie?
What Is Clone? The World’s First Bipedal Musculoskeletal Robot
A Polish startup, Clone Robotics, has achieved something remarkable—building the world’s first bipedal musculoskeletal humanoid robot. Unlike traditional metal-frame robots, Clone replicates the human body with an advanced artificial muscle system, creating an uncanny resemblance to human movement.
How Does Clone Move? The Science Behind Its Lifelike Motion
Clone uses hydraulic-driven artificial muscles known as Myofiber, which mimic human muscle structure and function. These synthetic muscle fibers contract and expand in a way that mirrors real muscles, allowing Clone to move fluidly. The company claims that each artificial muscle is carefully positioned to match human anatomy. 
If you take a closer look, Clone’s structure even reveals vein-like textures and muscle tension, making it even more lifelike. Unlike traditional humanoid robots built with rigid metal, Clone’s flexible materials make movements more natural and adaptive—and slightly less painful if it ever accidentally hits you!
Can You Buy One? Clone Robotics’ Exclusive Pre-Orders
For those who find Clone fascinating (or terrifying) and want one, there’s good news—Clone Robotics is opening pre-orders this year! However, they are only producing 279 units, meaning you’ll have to act fast to secure one.
According to the company’s website, Clone’s initial functions will include:
✔ Remembering home layouts and kitchen appliances
✔ Telling jokes and shaking hands
✔ Pouring drinks and making sandwiches
✔ Helping with daily chores like doing laundry, vacuuming, and setting tables
✔ Fetching items and following users around the house
✔ Charging itself automatically
Price? The first premium models will be expensive, but Clone Robotics plans to reduce costs to around $20,000, aiming for a 2026 mass-market launch.
Clone vs. Elon Musk’s Tesla Bot: A More Human Design?
In an interview with Libertyn magazine, Clone Robotics founder Łukasz Koźlik confidently claimed that Clone is far more advanced than Elon Musk’s Tesla Bot (Optimus).
“This is not just a humanoid robot—it’s a reconstructed human.”
Unlike Tesla Bot, which still moves robotically, Clone replicates human anatomy down to the deepest muscle layers. On their official website, Clone Robotics provides insights into its sophisticated skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems.
🦾 Muscular System
Clone’s muscles operate via Myofiber technology, which powers the robot’s movement. These artificial muscle fibers react in under 50 milliseconds, contract by 30%, and produce up to 1kg of force per 3g of weight—an efficiency that outperforms most robotic muscles.
🦴 Skeletal System
Unlike most robots, Clone contains all 206 human bones, with fully articulated joints mimicking real ligaments and tendons placements. The result? A robot with extreme flexibility and realistic movement.
Its shoulder joints alone provide 20 degrees of motion, while its spine and vertebrae add an extra six degrees of movement—a level of agility rarely seen in humanoid robots.
🧠 Nervous System
Clone is equipped with:
🔹 4 depth cameras for vision
🔹 70 inertial sensors for joint feedback
🔹 320 pressure sensors for force detection
It processes real-time motion control through NVIDIA Jetson Thor AI chips, enabling seamless reactions to its environment.
💧 Circulatory System
Clone’s hydraulic system mimics the human cardiovascular system. It uses a 500-watt electric pump, circulating liquid at 40 SLPM (liters per minute) and 100 psi pressure, powering its entire artificial muscular system.
From Prototype to Full-Body Robot: Clone’s Evolution
Clone Robotics wasn’t always building full-fledged humanoids. The company started in 2021, focusing on artificial hands and arms.
Clone’s Early Experiments (2019-2021)
🔸 2019: Founder Łukasz Koźlik developed robotic arms in a garage, experimenting with flexible artificial muscles.
🔸 2021: The first product, Clone Hand, was released—featuring artificial muscles that mimicked human grip precision.
From Arms to Full-Body Humanoids (2022-2024)
🔹 Torso Prototype: Clone Robotics introduced a humanoid torso, equipped with articulated shoulders, spinal movement, and lifelike muscle contractions.
🔹 Torso V2: The second version featured 910 artificial muscles, 164 degrees of freedom, and a translucent skin layer.
🔹 2024: Clone debuted its first full-body humanoid robot, setting a new milestone in biomimetic robotics.
Could Clone Change the Future of Robotics?
Clone’s hyper-realistic design makes it a game-changer in multiple industries. Potential applications include:
✅ Industrial Automation – Soft-touch robotic hands enable delicate material handling
✅ Home Assistance & Elderly Care – Helping with chores, fetching items, and companionship
✅ Medical Rehabilitation – Assisting in physiotherapy through remote-controlled movements
✅ AI & Neural Networks Integration – Learning new tasks and developing adaptive AI behavior
Final Thoughts: Are We Ready for Ultra-Realistic Robots?
Clone Robotics has brought us one step closer to a future where humanoid robots are indistinguishable from real people. While this technology is undeniably impressive, it also raises ethical and philosophical concerns—how human should robots really be?
For now, Clone is an engineering marvel, but whether it becomes a household companion or a dystopian nightmare remains to be seen.
