Renault Group and Wandercraft unveil Calvin robot, handling 40-50 kg, with 350-unit target by 2027
Renault Group and French scale-up Wandercraft have developed Calvin, a new-generation robot that uses physical AI to adapt to its environment and handle heavy loads up to 50 kg at the Douai factory.
- 40-50 kg
- 3-10 kg
- 11,000
- 350
What Happened
Calvin is a new-generation robot developed by Renault Group and Wandercraft, a French scale-up. It uses physical AI to perceive and adapt to its environment, allowing it to handle multiple tasks unlike traditional industrial robots. Currently being tested at the Douai factory, Calvin can grab two tires at once, roughly 30 kilos, and carry up to 40 to 50 kg, where most robots manage only 3 to 10 kg.
Laurent Duthoit of Renault Group hears Wandercraft co-founder announce humanoid robot plans at a Cap Digital R&D conference.
Laurent Duthoit visits Wandercraft's Paris offices; later, Wandercraft engineers tour the Douai factory.
Renault Group announces a stake in Wandercraft and a partnership agreement.
- 40-50 kg vs typical 3-10 kg
- Multiple tasks vs single task per robot
40 to 50 kgkg
Most robots on the market handle 3 to 10 kg.
- Inertial measurement units in each limb
- Force sensors under its feet
- An RGBD camera for environmental vision
Why this matters
Calvin aims to improve factory workers' safety by taking over heavy and repetitive tasks, while also boosting productivity and flexibility. The robot's ability to switch tasks could help preserve jobs by making factories more competitive. Renault plans 350 Calvins in French and Spanish plants by end of 2027.
Terms in This Story
- Physical AI
- Artificial intelligence that enables robots to perceive and adapt to their physical environment in real time.
- AGV
- Automated Guided Vehicle: a mobile robot that follows predetermined paths for material handling.
- AMR
- Autonomous Mobile Robot: a robot that navigates autonomously without fixed routes.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.