Summary

 

Alex (ALLEX) is the flagship humanoid robot from WIRobotics, co‑founded by Yong‑Jae Kim (KOREATECH professor) and Younbaek Lee. It was unveiled at the Robot Innovation Hub (RIH) at Korea University of Technology and Education in August 2025.  

 

The name ALLEX stands for “ALL‑EXperience”, emphasizing its ability to respond not just to visual input but also to force, contact, and impact stimuli in real‑world environments.  

 

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📝 Editorial Overview

 

Alex is designed as a general‑purpose humanoid that can perform both industrial tasks and human‑interaction scenarios. Its standout feature is a high‑DOF compliant hand with 15 degrees of freedom, capable of delicate manipulation such as shaking hands, hugging, or handling fragile objects.  

 

The robot’s low‑friction, backdrivable arms and gravity‑compensated upper body allow smooth, natural motion. Demonstrations showed Alex mimicking human hand precision so convincingly that handshakes and hugs felt “as natural as with a human”.  

 

By combining force feedback, whole‑body compliance, and visual recognition, Alex sets a new benchmark for humanoid responsiveness in South Korea’s robotics industry.  

 

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⚙️ Technical Specifications

 

| Feature | Details |

|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Developer | WIRobotics (Cheonan, South Korea) |

| Launch Date | August 2025 |

| Height / Weight | Full‑size humanoid (exact specs not disclosed) |

| Degrees of Freedom | 15 DOF compliant hand; whole‑body high DOF |

| Key Features | Whole‑body force sensing, compliant hand, backdrivable arms, gravity‑compensated torso |

| Interaction | Natural handshakes, hugs, delicate manipulation |

| Use Cases | Industrial tasks, household assistance, human‑robot interaction |

 

Image: @MikeKalil