The Army named five companies as winners of its xTechHumanoid competition on September 11, selecting technologies that could contribute to future military operations.
The competition was a partnership between the Humanoid Community of Collaboration, established in December 2023, and the Army FUZE xTech program, which scouts and accelerates dual-use technologies to enhance soldier readiness. The competition drew 103 white paper submissions across baseline humanoid forms and advanced subsystem technologies.
Nine finalists demonstrated their technologies on September 9-10 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The five winners are: ACES Group, which designed an integrated power system for humanoid robots; IHMC Robotics, developer of "Alex," a humanoid robot featuring impact-resilient actuators and hybrid autonomy; Hydroplane Limited, which created a lightweight mobile power-generation system; Ras Labs, developer of highly sensitive fingertip tactile sensors; and Velocity Explorations, which built command-and-control software.
"Humanoid robots are part of a broader autonomy push to increase the depth and breadth of robotic platforms," said Alex Miller, the Army's chief technology officer. "We are identifying the problems, mission needs and opportunities to enable our formations with the right mix of tools."
According to the Army, the competition provided a direct connection between commercial technology development and military operational demand, creating opportunities for companies to pressure-test their solutions and identify where their capabilities could deliver military value. The competition also gives the Army and joint force a clearer picture of progress in the commercial humanoid robotics market and the technical challenges that remain.