This startup bucked mainstream robotics training methods to teach a robot how to load the dishes - Business Insider

One other feat included Memo picking up two wine glasses, which can be notoriously fragile, with one hand. The robot also folded socks and loaded up an espresso machine.

Sunday Robotics, also known as Sunday, was founded in April 2024 by Zhao and Cheng Chi, both of whom have a background in robotics.

"Today, we present a step-change in robotic AI," Zhao said in an X post. The cofounder added that Memo broke zero wine glasses over more than 20 live demo sessions. Many companies have turned to teleoperations, in which a human controls a robot via joysticks or various controllers, to teach robots. Other companies are experimenting with synthetic data and simulations.

Sunday doesn't use any of those widely accepted methods. Instead, the startup's cofounder said the company built a proprietary glove that mimics the shape of the Memo's Lego-like hands. To get a robot to interact with common household items — some of which can be delicate — is a crucial benchmark for dexterity in the world of robotics.

For one, replicating the human hand, which has thousands of touch receptors, is a challenging engineering feat in itself. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said as much in the company's latest earnings call in October.

The information used to train robots is also a major bottleneck.