Robot

Asimov’s physical implementation.

Open Source Reference Design

Asimov isn’t a product we sell. It’s an open-source reference design that proves the Menlo Stack works end-to-end and guides the development of our platform. Hardware vendors can adopt our stack and build their own Menlo-compatible humanoids.

Design Principles

Safety as Foundation

Asimov implements permissions, safety constraints, and operational telemetry at the hardware level. Before any policy reaches the robot, it passes through safety boundaries that prevent harmful actions.

Open Hardware Ecosystem

We deliberately avoid vertical integration on manufacturing. Hardware is sourced from an open supply chain, so we can focus our investment where it matters most: the intelligence stack.

Economic Viability

Asimov is designed for long-term economic viability. We target an annualized total cost of ownership (TCO) of $30,000 per unit—comparable to a minimum wage worker in developed economies. Achieving this requires creative engineering and a willingness to apply lateral thinking with withered technology.

If we can make humanoid labor economically viable, it transforms from a research curiosity into actual infrastructure. The $30,000 target isn’t a projection—it’s a design constraint that shapes every hardware and software decision we make.

Hardware Architecture

Asimov’s reference design includes:

• Actuation — Standardized servo interfaces with predictable torque and position control
• Sensing — Integrated perception stack with depth, force, and proprioceptive feedback
• Compute — Onboard processing for low-latency reflex loops, with cloud connectivity for high-level reasoning
• Power — Standard battery modules with hot-swap capability for continuous operation

Each subsystem is documented and sourced from the open supply chain. Integrators can replace any component while maintaining compatibility with the Menlo Stack.