Exoskeleton Pioneer Wandercraft Partners with Renault, Unveils 'Calvin' Industrial Humanoid

A sneak peek of the Wandercraft Calvin 40 humanoid robot — A first look at the Calvin 40, the first in a new family of industrial humanoids from Wandercraft. Image: Wandercraft

Wandercraft and Renault Announce Strategic Partnership, Unveil 'Calvin' Humanoid

Paris, France – Wandercraft, the French company renowned for its advanced medical exoskeletons, is making a significant leap into industrial automation. On June 6, 2025, the company announced it has finalized a strategic partnership with automotive giant Renault Group, a deal that includes a minority investment from Renault and a plan to co-develop a family of industrial humanoid robots.

The new line of robots, named "Calvin," will be built on Wandercraft's established technology platform, which powers its AI-driven, self-balancing medical exoskeletons. The primary goal of the partnership is to deploy the Calvin humanoids within Renault's manufacturing facilities to relieve workers from physically strenuous and non-ergonomic tasks.

This collaboration marks a major strategic pivot for Wandercraft, leveraging its deep expertise in human-like robotic motion for the industrial sector. It also serves as a powerful validation of their core technology by a global manufacturing leader.

"This partnership with Wandercraft is a forward-looking move," said Thierry Charvet, Chief Industry and Quality Officer of Renault Group. "It will allow us to accelerate on automation and to develop robots for our specific auto industrial use, giving us the opportunity to concentrate our people on more value-adding tasks."

From Medical Exoskeletons to Industrial Humanoids

Founded in 2012, Wandercraft made its name developing sophisticated self-balancing exoskeletons like the Atalante and the upcoming personal mobility device, Eve. These systems allow individuals with walking impairments to move hands-free, a feat achieved through advanced AI and a deep understanding of human biomechanics.

Paraplegic athlete Kevin Piette made history by carrying the Olympic torch in Paris using a Wandercraft exoskeleton – completely hands-free. Image: Wandercraft.

The company's technology is powered by a proprietary neural network trained on a vast dataset of over one million real-world steps taken each month by users of its 100+ deployed exoskeletons. This focus on AI-driven dynamic balancing has been a key differentiator, earning Wandercraft a 2025 SXSW Innovation Award for AI.

The move into industrial humanoids is a logical, if ambitious, evolution. Wandercraft states that Calvin is built on the same advanced platform as its exoskeletons. An early testament to their development agility is the "Calvin 40," the first robot in the new family, which was reportedly developed in just 40 days.

Synergies and a Path to Scale

The partnership is designed for mutual benefit. Renault gains access to Wandercraft's cutting-edge robotics expertise to create tailored automation solutions for its factories, aiming to boost productivity and improve worker ergonomics.

For Wandercraft, the collaboration is transformative. It provides not only a crucial first customer in the industrial space but also access to Renault's extensive expertise in high-volume manufacturing and "design-to-cost" methodologies. This industrial know-how is expected to help Wandercraft scale production and reduce costs across all its product lines, including its medical and personal exoskeletons.

"The investment of Renault Group marks a defining moment for Wandercraft," said Matthieu Masselin, CEO and co-founder of Wandercraft. "This partnership will boost our ability to build and scale high-impact, low-cost robotics that improve the daily lives of people – whether it's helping people with disabilities to walk or supporting industrial workers through automation."

Implications for the Humanoid Industry

Wandercraft's entry into the industrial humanoid market, backed by a major automotive player, is a significant development. It follows a path similar to that of companies like Fourier, which also transitioned from medical exoskeletons to developing industrial humanoids.

This trend underscores the value of the highly specialized knowledge required for creating stable, dynamic bipedal robots. By proving their technology in the highly regulated and safety-critical medical field, companies like Wandercraft build a strong foundation of trust and technical proficiency. The partnership with Renault provides a clear, focused application and a pathway to commercial viability, potentially allowing them to bypass some of the more speculative "general purpose" development cycles.

As Wandercraft leverages Renault's industrial might to bring Calvin to the factory floor, the robotics community will be watching closely to see how this unique blend of medical-grade biomechanics and automotive manufacturing efficiency shapes the future of industrial work.