HELIOS

HELIOS has four arms and no legs, which makes sense once its workplace is clear: ORBIT Robotics, a Swiss startup described in the press as an ETH Zurich spin-off, designed it for microgravity work on future space stations. Two arms anchor the robot to the structure while the other two handle cargo and tools, and the hands have five fingers.

The drive is tendon-based, with motors mounted at the shoulders pulling cables, rolling-contact elbows and load-bearing parts produced by 3D printing. The prototype was unveiled online in April 2026, with first press coverage in late May; so far it has been tested only while hanging from straps that mimic weightlessness.

The height of about 160 cm comes from a reporter's description rather than from ORBIT, and the company discloses no weight, joint count, sensors or runtime; its website offers little beyond the slogan about humanoid robots for space. One report called the company Canadian, the others place it in Zurich, so the catalogue lists Switzerland. Price on request.

Where factory humanoids like RayNex G3 are judged by lifting capacity, HELIOS is judged by whether it can hold on and work without a floor.