RAI robot demonstrates whole-body manipulation in complex tasks
Researchers at ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab showcased a humanoid robot named RAI performing whole-body manipulation in a video featured by IEEE Spectrum. The robot uses a contact-centric learning framework combining motion imitation and reinforcement learning, trained on human motion data to adapt to new environments. It can handle objects like tires but may also shift focus to other items…
Key points
- ETH Zurich’s RAI robot uses contact-centric learning to manipulate objects with whole-body movement
- System leverages human motion data for adaptation in unstructured environments, per lab
- Video Friday series highlights robotics demos, including industrial and drone-focused innovations
The demo highlights progress in humanoid robotics, though the lab notes ambiguity in whether the robot actively engages its torso—an ability humans rely on for heavy or awkward objects. The video is part of IEEE Spectrum’s Video Friday series, which also spotlights other robotics innovations, including a vision computer for drones and industrial climbing robots.
The story so far
2 episodes →- RAI robot demonstrates whole-body manipulation in complex tasksthis story
Video Friday: Spot Plays to Show Its Whole Body Manipulation
IEEE Spectrum Robotics · 30 October 2026
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This text was published by IEEE Spectrum Robotics and written by Evan Ackerman. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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