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Cartwheel Robotics was an American robotics startup based in [[Nevada]], [[United States]], that developed AI-powered [[humanoid robot]]s designed for home companionship. Founded by Scott LaValley, a robotics veteran with experience at [[Boston Dynamics]] and [[Walt Disney Imagineering]], the company operated in stealth mode before emerging publicly in 2025 with its flagship product, the [[Yogi]] humanoid robot. Cartwheel Robotics ceased operations in early 2026.
Cartwheel Robotics was founded by Scott LaValley approximately four years before its public emergence, placing its origins around 2021 or 2022. LaValley brought experience from [[Boston Dynamics]], where he worked on advanced locomotion systems, and from Disney Imagineering, where he contributed to animatronic character development.[1]
The company operated in stealth mode during its early years, developing its core technology and prototype hardware. In 2025, Cartwheel Robotics emerged from stealth with the announcement of its [[Yogi]] humanoid robot, positioning itself as one of the few companies focused specifically on building humanoid robots for the home rather than factories or warehouses.[2]
Cartwheel attracted attention for its focus on creating "lovable" robots that prioritized emotional connection and natural movement over industrial functionality. The company developed a proprietary Motion Language Model (MLM) to generate realistic, expressive robot behaviors.
In early 2026, Scott LaValley announced that Cartwheel Robotics was shutting down, ending the company's approximately four-year journey. The closure was attributed to the challenges of commercializing consumer-focused humanoid robots, a segment with high development costs and uncertain market demand.[3]
The [[Yogi]] was Cartwheel Robotics' flagship humanoid robot, designed for home companionship and social interaction.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | ~76 cm (prototype) |
| Degrees of Freedom | 50+ |
| Materials | Medical-grade silicone, protective soft materials |
| Target Market | Consumer / home |
| Status | Prototype (never commercially released) |
Unlike most humanoid robots that target industrial or commercial applications, Yogi was designed to be small, approachable, and safe for direct human interaction. The robot's body was constructed from medical-grade silicone and protective soft materials, making it comfortable and safe to touch.[4]
The prototype featured more than 50 degrees of freedom, enabling highly expressive gestures, realistic facial movements, and fluid body language. Yogi was intended to serve as a companion robot that could perform cartwheels, dances, and personalized gaits that conveyed emotions.[1]
Cartwheel's primary technological innovation was its Motion Language Model (MLM), a generative AI system designed to produce "natural, diverse, and personalized behaviors" for the Yogi robot. The MLM enabled real-time generation of dynamic movements, including:[1]
The Motion Language Model represented an approach to robot control that prioritized expressiveness and emotional resonance over precision and repeatability, reflecting the company's consumer-focused philosophy.
Cartwheel Robotics distinguished itself from the broader humanoid robotics industry by focusing exclusively on the home market. While companies like [[Tesla]], [[Figure AI]], and [[Agility Robotics]] targeted industrial and logistics applications, Cartwheel argued that the greatest long-term market for humanoid robots was in personal companionship and home assistance.[2]
The company's closure highlighted the difficulties facing startups in the consumer humanoid space, where high hardware costs, complex software requirements, and uncertain consumer willingness to pay create significant barriers to commercialization.