Asimov

Asimov  is Menlo’s agent-native humanoid robot, open-sourced as a reference design for Menlo’s manufacturing partner ecosystem.

Asimov & Menlo OS

Asimov implements the Menlo OS stack. It brings together the five components of Menlo’s technology stack:

1. Menlo OS — The operating system that runs on Asimov, providing the agent abstraction layer
2. Agent Platform — Deploys AI agents to Asimov with safety guarantees
3. Uranus — Validates agent behavior in simulation before physical deployment
4. Cyclotron — Trains motor skills like locomotion and manipulation
5. Data Engine — Captures operational data for continuous improvement

Asimov is designed to be manufactured by an open ecosystem of manufacturing partners, with the Menlo OS providing a consistent software layer that abstracts away hardware differences.

Why “Asimov”?

Named after Isaac Asimov , the science fiction author who envisioned robots as helpers—machines that could serve humanity if designed with care. His Three Laws of Robotics  remain a foundational framework for safe, beneficial machines:

Three Laws of Robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as this protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

We name our reference humanoid in that spirit: a robot that augments human capability rather than replacing it, built with safety, reliability, and purpose from the ground up.

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. The USD 30,000 target isn’t a projection—it’s a design constraint that shapes every hardware and software decision we make. 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.

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 Menlo OS.