Engineered Arts: Bringing Code to Life Through Hyper-Realistic Humanoid Robots
What happens when childhood dreams meet cutting-edge engineering? How do you build robots that not only function but also truly captivate the imagination? This is precisely what Engineered Arts, a company pushing the boundaries of realistic and interactive robotics, is realizing through hyper-realistic humanoid robots.
On Episode 93 of the Machine Minds Show, host Greg Toroosian, founder of Samson Rose, speaks with Leo Chen, Director of US Operations at Engineered Arts. Leo takes us on his journey from a childhood fascination sparked by Star Wars to leading teams at groundbreaking robotics projects at Google and now Engineered Arts. The discussion also features Engineered Arts' flagship humanoid robots, Ameca and Mesmer, designed to captivate audiences across entertainment, education, and elder care.
From Robotic Eels to Humanoid Expressions: Leo's Journey
Every career path has its unique starting point. For Leo Chen, it began with a childhood dream inspired by R2-D2 from Empire Strikes Back. This passion led him to First Robotics, then to studying electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley. His early projects included a robotic eel named "Unagi." Before joining Engineered Arts, Leo’s professional journey included roles at Linear Technology, where he consulted on projects such as the first-generation iPad and Tesla Roadster, as well as various roles at Google, including Project Loon, which involved giant balloon-launching robots, and Verity Robotics. For over a decade, Leo has been immersed in robotics, gaining invaluable experience with real-world deployments beyond the laboratory.
Leo’s path to Engineered Arts was serendipitous. He first discovered the company through a Google search for robotics jobs in 2007, but did not pursue it at the time due to location. Years later, a recruiting firm reached out, sparking his interest with the prospect of working on humanoid robots. Impressed by the recruiter’s knowledge and the company’s mission, Leo connected with COO Morgan Roe and founder and CEO Will Jackson. He was particularly captivated by Will Jackson’s "rags to riches" story, building the company from his garden shed in Cornwall, England. Leo’s time in Falmouth, Cornwall, provided him with a unique cultural experience, which he likened to a British version of Santa Cruz, complete with surfer culture and artistic vibes.
Engineered Arts: Building Robots for Human Connection
Engineered Arts, founded in 2004, is the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of humanoid entertainment robots. Their mission since inception has revolved around building humanoid robots that provide compelling human interactions. The company believes that the human face is one of the highest bandwidth forms of communication available to us, and by integrating advanced large language models, they can deliver engaging conversations and interactions that bring moments of joy to people.
With over 20 years of humanoid robot development, Engineered Arts has installed more than 200 robots worldwide. Their applications span several key verticals:
Entertainment: Their custom robots are utilized in places like the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose, California, where a robot portrays the Egyptian god Thoth, and at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where multiple robots converse with guests before shows.
Research: Universities such as the University of California, Merced, the University of Auckland, and Clemson University employ Engineered Arts robots for human-robot interaction studies and embodied AI research, serving as incredible platforms for scientific study.
Education: A charter school system in San Diego County partners with Engineered Arts, using robots as executive coaches and wellness personas for students and faculty, and as teaching aids to showcase different learning methods for non-traditional students.
Soon, Engineered Arts envisions their robots taking on roles in receptionist services at high-end retail locations and banks, patient intake at doctors’ offices, and elder care. Leo highlighted the critical need in elder care, noting that 94% of United States nursing homes are understaffed, and senior loneliness is a significant problem; Ameca aims to fill a niche in providing engagement and lifting spirits.
Engineered Arts’ robots, particularly Ameca, are renowned for their lifelike facial expressions, setting them apart in the humanoid market. This high facial fidelity, combined with their custom operating system, Tridium, enables deep diagnostics and remote maintenance of their robot fleet in the field. Leo emphasized that the ability to rapidly diagnose and address issues remotely ensures high uptime and reliability, which are critical for customer adoption beyond laboratory settings.
Leo also shared a compelling anecdote about his own experience with an Ameca robot. While large language models had become merely "tools" for him, interacting with an embodied, lifelike humanoid transformed his perception, creating a visceral experience that was far more engaging compared to the difference between watching Jaws on a screen and swimming with sharks in a cage.
Engineered Arts Product Lineup
Engineered Arts focuses squarely on Ameca and its variations:
Ameca: The full-body, six-feet-tall humanoid robot with articulating arms, expressive hands, and an incredibly lifelike face.
Ameca Desktop: A smaller form factor featuring the same expressive face, designed for close-up interactions.
Mesmer: Robots that utilize the same core technology as Ameca but are designed with a more realistic human form factor, often customized to mimic specific individuals. Mesmer robots are used for patient simulation in medical training (simulating stroke patients or emotional episodes) and entertainment (such as a media campaign for Westworld, where a robot mimicked an actor).
While Engineered Arts has built RoboThespian in the past, their current focus is on the Ameca and Mesmer lines, maintaining support for existing RoboThespian customers.
The Ethics and Future of Humanoid Robots
The conversation also explored the ethical considerations surrounding humanoid robots. Leo affirmed that Engineered Arts’ robots are designed to augment human experience, not to replace jobs. This message is consistently conveyed, even when addressing initial hesitations from groups like teachers in school districts. The goal is to offload repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on their unique strengths and connections.
An interesting cultural observation was made regarding robot perception: Western cultures often associate robots with adversarial roles (e.g., Terminator, iRobot), while Eastern cultures tend to view them as helpful companions (e.g., Doraemon, Gundam). Leo expressed hope that future generations, exposed to more positive robot portrayals (like Big Hero 6 or The Wild Robot), will shift this perception, leading to a future where robots like Ameca are remembered for bringing joy.
Regarding future innovations, Leo is particularly excited about the development of dexterous hands for Ameca. While bipedal locomotion is on the roadmap, the new hands will allow Ameca to pick up small objects and, significantly, communicate in American Sign Language (ASL), greatly increasing accessibility.
Leo offered a realistic, "pessimistic" perspective on the future of humanoid robots, drawing parallels to the self-driving car industry. He predicted a period of consolidation, where only the strongest companies will survive. Challenges include current limitations in battery life, power density for actuators and energy storage, and, crucially, safety. He questioned the inherent necessity of the humanoid form factor for many applications, suggesting that the human tendency to design in our own image may limit creativity and efficiency when "super-human" designs might be more optimal. Both Greg and Leo agreed that regulatory bodies and infrastructure development will likely lag behind technological advancements, influencing the pace of mass-market adoption of humanoids in public spaces.
Advice for Robotics Entrepreneurs and Key Career Lessons
Leo provided valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in robotics:
For humanoid robotics: Be able to articulate a clear, compelling reason for choosing the humanoid form factor. It is an inherently challenging design, so a strong "North Star" is essential.
For general robotics: Avoid making "cost reduction" your sole value proposition. This leads to a "race to the bottom." Instead, focus on providing additional, unique value that fosters customer loyalty and long-term investment.
Reflecting on his career, Leo shared two instrumental lessons:
Do not forget about the human: He emphasized the immense value of soft skills, which are kindness, grace, and compassion, in building genuine relationships. These connections, rather than purely technical prowess, led to significant career opportunities.
A minute of testing in a lab is worth ten minutes of "flapping about" in the field: Drawing from his extensive experience in challenging field environments, Leo stressed the importance of thorough, upfront testing and verification in a controlled lab setting to prevent costly and difficult issues during deployment.
Take Action Now!
To hear the complete, engaging conversation with Leo Chen, listen to Episode 93 | Humanoid Robots Built to Mesmerise | Leo Chen here.
For more information about Engineered Arts and their hyper-advanced robots, visit the Engineered Arts website, Engineered Arts on LinkedIn, or Leo Chen on LinkedIn.
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