Everything on Foundation Robotics
17 stories, newest first. Back to the profile.
The Great Dexterity Divide: Why Robotics Leaders Are Warring Over Tendon vs. Direct-Drive Hands
August 14, 2026
Figure CEO Brett Adcock dismissed tendon-driven hands as a "complete local maximum," igniting a fierce debate with Foundation over friction, force, and the future of humanoid manipulation.
Foundation Robotics CEO Details Ukraine Pilot, "Super-Heavy" Phantom 2, and Rejection of Companion Bots
March 28, 2026
In a new podcast appearance, Foundation Robotics CEO Sankaet Pathak outlines a 50/50 split between defense and commercial work, revealing a pilot program in Ukraine and teasing a highly ruggedized Phantom 2.
Watch: Foundation Puts Phantom Through a Gauntlet of Marbles and Banana Peels
March 9, 2026
A new technical demonstration from Foundation Robotics shows the Phantom MK1 humanoid navigating a series of comedic and complex physical obstacles to stress-test its balance and "spinal cord" control systems.
Decoupling the Brain: Inside Foundation’s Phantom Head Assembly
February 19, 2026
Foundation Robotics continues its technical "deep dive" series, explaining why its humanoid computer is located in its chest and how the robot uses evolutionary principles to optimize its sensory array.
"Peace Through Strength": Foundation CEO Showcases Phantom Robot on Fox Business
February 16, 2026
Sankaet Pathak joined "Mornings with Maria" to discuss the role of humanoid robots in Ukraine, the "inevitable" automation of white-collar work, and a master plan that extends to Antarctica and the Moon.
Watch: Inside Foundation’s Humanoid Factory and the Anatomy of a "War Machine"
February 10, 2026
Foundation Robotics opens the doors to its San Francisco "Robo Factory 1," showcasing the manual assembly of the Phantom MK1 and a new bio-inspired tendon-driven hand.
Foundation Robotics Leans Into the "Killer App" — Literally
November 20, 2025
In a candid new profile, Foundation CEO Sankaet Pathak explicitly embraces the weaponization of humanoid robots, even as a failed demo highlights the gap between battlefield ambitions and engineering reality.
Foundation’s 20-Minute Uncut Walking Video Is Deliberately Unimpressive
November 11, 2025
CEO Sankaet Pathak posted a 20-minute, unedited video of the Phantom humanoid walking. While the gait is rudimentary, Pathak claims the underlying DVBF-based AI policy is the real breakthrough, requiring no manual tuning for deployment.
Foundation CEO Details Path to Armed Robots, Aims for 10,000-Unit Production in 2026
October 23, 2025
In a new NewsNation segment, Foundation CEO Sankaet Pathak expanded on his company's military ambitions, detailing a progression from "ground drones" to armed robots. He also set an ambitious manufacturing goal of 10,000 humanoids in 2026.
CNET Goes Hands-On With Foundation's 'Phantom' Humanoid as CEO Discusses Arming Robots
October 12, 2025
In a new CNET feature, Foundation Robotics offered a hands-on teleoperation demo of its Phantom MK1 humanoid. CEO Sankaet Pathak used the opportunity to further detail the company's military ambitions, stating for the first time that arming the robots with guns is 'on the table.'
Foundation CEO Discusses 'Dual-Use' Humanoids, From Factory Floors to Future Battlefields
October 12, 2025
In a recent interview, Foundation Robotics CEO Sankaet Pathak elaborated on the company's strategy to build humanoids for both industrial automation and military logistics. The conversation sheds light on their hardware choices, ambitious production goals, and the controversial dual-use approach that distinguishes them from competitors.
'Don't Send a Marine, Send a Robot': Foundation Co-Founder Details Military Pitch for Humanoids
October 1, 2025
In a recent TV appearance, Foundation co-founder and former Marine Mike LeBlanc openly discussed the company's focus on defense applications for its humanoid robots, framing them as autonomous ground drones designed to replace soldiers in dangerous roles. The explicit military focus comes as the company, led by controversial ex-Synapse CEO Sankaet Pathak, continues its ambitious push into the competitive robotics field.
1X Teases "Incredible" Reveal Amidst Redwoods; Foundation Robotics Launches "Skynet Junior" Training Cluster
June 9, 2025
Robotics firm 1X teases a major update this week with a cryptic forest video featuring its NEO humanoids. Meanwhile, Foundation Robotics CEO Sankaet Pathak announced their first AI training cluster, "skynet junior," is live, with plans for a larger "skynet" cluster.
Humanoid Startup Foundation Pins Hopes on Decades of AI Research to Give Robots a Deeper Understanding of Physics
May 10, 2025
Startup Foundation, led by ex-Synapse CEO Sankaet Pathak and with AI research chief Prof. Patrick van der Smagt, claims its humanoid robots will learn to interact with the world more efficiently using Deep Variational Bayes Filters. Amidst ambitious fundraising goals, we examine the science, the claims, and the challenges.
Foundation Robotics Reportedly Aiming for $100M Raise at $1B Valuation
May 9, 2025
Humanoid robotics startup Foundation, led by ex-Synapse CEO Sankaet Pathak, is reportedly seeking $100 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation. This ambitious target comes shortly after the company unveiled its 'Phantom' robot and against the backdrop of Pathak's previous company's recent bankruptcy.
Humanoid Hype Check: Experts Urge Caution on Near-Term Robot Revolution
May 7, 2025
Analyses from MIT Technology Review and a Fortune op-ed highlight significant near-term challenges for widespread humanoid robot deployment. Experts caution against hype, emphasizing technical, economic, and, as recent CEO discussions on social media reveal, domestic adoption hurdles related to safety and public perception, while underscoring the role of specialized robotics.
Foundation Emerges With 'Phantom' Humanoid, Betting on Novel Actuators and Hybrid AI
April 23, 2025
Foundation Robotics, led by ex-Synapse CEO Sankaet Pathak, emerges with its 'Phantom' humanoid robot targeting industrial automation. Founded in May 2023, the company emphasizes proprietary high-efficiency actuators and a hybrid AI approach combining state-based models and imitation learning. Targeting initial deliveries in mid-2025, Foundation aims to differentiate itself from competitors like Figure and Tesla through hardware performance and faster AI training.
