Who makes the gearbox?

Who captures

CubeMars13Tesla5@smsehy4Unitree4@techniahqrobot3Schaeffler2@asiagigi2Nabtesco2@BillHughesDC2maxon1Foxconn1@AGkorthos1Core Matter1Mitsubishi1@michellelsun1Apptronik1RAI Institute1Sona1Sona Comstar1TQ-RoboDrive1ZiNovaLabs1@ctorobotics1@santoshsingh11ELECTROMATE1

Sourced numbers

Highlanders1,000 units“targeting up to 1,000 units per month from 2027”@smsehy on X

TRON 21 units“TRON 2 serves as a modular and extensible embodied robotic platform for multi-tool, multi-step tasks across large workspaces.”LimX Dynamics on X: "Together with ZINOVA's Tool Intelligence, TRON 2 takes on increasingly complex construction workflows. @ZiNovaLabs builds on TRON 2 to explore an innovative robotic configuration for construction, demonstrating key tasks in a scaled-down tilt-up construction workflow, includi… / X

Schaeffler’s agreement with Humanoid1,000,000 units“covering a seven-digit number of units.”The hardest problem in physical AI may be the magnet, not the model

robot design1 units“This product is a civilian robot.”Brushless Digital Servo Compact and Designed for Embodied Intelligence Applications - Unitree Robotics

Actuator BOM contribution40 units“Actuators can potentially represent ~40–60% of a humanoid's BOM.”@santoshsingh1 on X

Gearbox cost contribution30 units“the gearbox itself can represent roughly 30–50% of actuator cost.”@santoshsingh1 on X

Harmonic Drive LLC50 units“With over 50 years of experience, our expert engineering and production teams continually develop enabling technologies for the evolving motion control market.”@Electromate on X

civilian robot1 units“This product is a civilian robot.”Brushless Digital Servo Compact and Designed for Embodied Intelligence Applications - Unitree Robotics

← pulse .md twin

Published	Source	Entity	Captured intelligence	Topic
7:17 PM ET	@TheHumanoidHub	Tesla	@TheHumanoidHub7:17 PM ETTesla @TheHumanoidHub on X Tesla Q3 earnings call: Question: Where do you see Optimus design changes still happening? Konstantinos: The hand is the most challenging hardware area. Most of the electromechanical systems are high-confidence. The hand is more… @TheHumanoidHub· Oct 21, 2026 Tesla's Q3 earnings deck: "Optimus production began in Fremont on our high-volume lines. The bots coming off this line are the first production-quality bots that we have manufactured. While we will continue to iterate on the hardware and manufacturing process, we have proven that the current manufacturing process for Optimus is suitable for a commercial product."	Humanoids
7:20 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor7:20 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X 🚀 Meet the New CubeMars AKE40-6 KV90! Small in size, ready for precision motion. 🤖⚙️ The new AKE40-6 KV90 is part of the CubeMars QDD actuator lineup, designed for compact robotic systems where space and weight matter. Looking for a…	Actuation
5:06 AM ET	@UnmannedSystem	maxon	@UnmannedSystem5:06 AM ETmaxon @UnmannedSystem on X maxon has supported NASA’s Perseverance rover as it sets a new off-world driving record, with ten maxon drives performing mission-critical functions within the rover’s sample handling system. https://t.co/I7W2d053UQ	Physical AI
6:00 PM ET	@MatthewChang	Foxconn	@MatthewChang6:00 PM ETFoxconn @MatthewChang on X Well said Yeok! -your neighborhood engineer who is also a licensed engineer in China H/t: @walterpchen https://t.co/fVZHeRylPh @yeokch· Oct 17, 2026 I've spent years in China building robots. I can tell you this playbook won't work: Pre-seed $: Invent the ultimate actuator. Seed $$: Figure out mass production. The hard part isn't inventing a beautiful topology. It's process engineering. The real delta between the US and China is the ability to execute the enormous amount of physical x mental work required to iterate thousands of times on product designs and manufacturing processes. Partly because much of the tacit knowledge / management systems has left the US, but also because of the sheer human labor required. This isn't something you can solve by buying traditional automation lines either. It requires: 1. Ideation driven by human intuition. Walking up and down the line, talking to assembly workers, and developing hypotheses about what and where improvements can be made. Raw human hours and attention spent understanding a specific manufacturing process. 2. Large batches of experiments across multiple variables. Coordinating experiments that can easily involve 50+ people, issuing instructions, and tracking the execution and results of each experiment. 3. Purpose-built test design to identify key metrics. For example, a change in gear hobbing profile might require accelerated aging tests on a dyno, while a change in bearing tolerance might require NVH testing. 4. Data + human intuition-driven analysis. Interpreting test results and deciding whether to implement a process change or run the next set of experiments. 5. Strict process control. Reissuing work instructions to the line and ensuring every process is followed to the letter. The best manufacturers in Asia, from Foxconn to TSMC, have built their competitive advantage on systematically turning thousands of physical experiments into better manufacturing processes. Their moat isn't just production scale. It's the organizational machinery that makes manufacturing learn and improve faster than anyone else. I don't think most people in SF clock this. Say you're manufacturing actuator gears in-house in the US. After you've made your first article, will you hire a team of 10 process engineers to coordinate the 50 technicians running concurrent experiments with designs, processes, and materials? To understand wear patterns across every pin in a cycloidal drive after 10,000 hours? To reduce backlash from 15 arcmin to 5, then to 1? Just to keep pace with China's progress over the next few years? Do you have the skill set and management systems in place to do this? That's why our approach isn't just to automate manufacturing. It's to automate the process of learning how to manufacture better. Automate simulation and design optimization. Automate assembly and physical testing. Automate the design and execution of process experiments. Feed real-world experimental data back into simulation to continuously improve sim-to-real accuracy. The goal is to turn what currently takes 50 engineers coordinating thousands of experiments into a closed-loop system that continuously learns and improves. Then the same robotic line mass-manufactures the product. PS: Coming back to actuator design, many actuator designs are already commoditized in China. The project in the video is open source, and CNC machining cost in China is just $27 (watch the video). I hope people understand this reality. I'll link more examples in the replies.	Actuation
10:47 AM ET	@techniahqrobot		@techniahqrobot10:47 AM ET @techniahqrobot on X Why does every joint of this $5,000 humanoid hide a cycloidal gearbox? Because 3D-printed plastic can't take concentrated loads. Spreading the force over many contact points is what makes it work. Full breakdown of Berkeley Humanoid Lite… @techniahqrobot· Oct 17, 2026 A robotic arm that learns physical tasks by watching you demonstrate them. Meet the SO-101, an open-source robotic arm supported by Hugging Face's LeRobot. ‣ 3D-print the parts and assemble the arm ‣ Demonstrate a task using the leader arm ‣ Record movements and train a neural network with LeRobot ‣ Let the follower arm perform the task on its own What catches my attention is how accessible this makes robot learning. You can experiment with imitation learning on real hardware without building an entire robot from scratch.	Humanoids
2:00 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor2:00 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X 🚀 Small & Thin QDD Actuators — Now Available! Meet the new CubeMars AKE40-6 KV90 and AKE50-8 KV110! 🤖 Designed for compact robotic applications, these new QDD actuators bring a small, thin form factor to your next robotics project.…	Actuation
5:22 PM ET	@ctorobotics	CubeMars	@ctorobotics5:22 PM ETCubeMars @ctorobotics on X What if a gear could change its angle while staying perfectly meshed? ⚙️🤯 Mishin Machine demonstrates a 3D-printed variable-angle gear joint with a 180° tilt range and a trochoidal tooth profile designed to maintain engagement throughout…	Actuation
4:00 AM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor4:00 AM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X Small, Thin, and Ready for Robotics 🤖 \| CubeMars AKE40-6 Compact design meets precise motion. ⚙️ The CubeMars AKE40-6 is in preparation for launch! Designed for space-conscious robotic applications, it’s a model to keep on your radar for…	Actuation
7:32 PM ET	@AGkorthos	Schaeffler	@AGkorthos7:32 PM ETSchaeffler @AGkorthos on X Schaeffler updated its humanoid robotics components business today; orders on hand are now ~€400M (~$448M) https://t.co/MYPb403KoT https://t.co/PWJWaIqpMZ @AGkorthos· Oct 13, 2026 Supply chain intelligence for robotics From materials to machines; humanoids and more 🔗https://t.co/FZakOJLArJ https://t.co/KFUMEJ2I91	Humanoids
11:50 AM ET	@AGkorthos		@AGkorthos11:50 AM ET @AGkorthos on X Supply chain intelligence for robotics From materials to machines; humanoids and more 🔗https://t.co/FZakOJLArJ https://t.co/KFUMEJ2I91	Humanoids
11:03 AM ET	@asiagigi		@asiagigi11:03 AM ET @asiagigi on X Everyone builds humanoid bipedal legs. Almost nobody solves the wrist. The moment a 40kg humanoid tries to turn a jammed industrial valve, an inferior gear train turns into metal confetti. Engineering breakdown of 6-DOF harmonic kinematics…	Humanoids
5:30 AM ET	@tslaming	Tesla	@tslaming5:30 AM ETTesla @tslaming on X ENGINEERING NEWS ⚙️ Tesla has engineered a fearless little pump: it drowns its own electronics in oil to keep them cool 🆒 Tucked inside every electric drive unit is a small oil pump whose sole job is keeping the motor and gearbox from…	Actuation
7:00 AM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor7:00 AM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X ⚙️ What’s Inside the CubeMars AKH70-48? High torque. Compact integration. A hollow-shaft design built for robotic joints. 🤖 Take a closer look at the CubeMars AKH70-48 and discover the engineering inside: a three-stage planetary gearbox,…	Actuation
8:00 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor8:00 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X Powering Agile Motion with AK70-10 🤖 Discover how the CubeMars AK70-10 delivers responsive motion for dynamic robotic systems through its compact, highly integrated architecture and 10:1 planetary reduction. Combining high torque density,…	Actuation
6:39 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor6:39 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X From installation to testing — see the CubeMars AKE Series in action. ⚙️🤖 Every detail matters when building a high-performance robotic joint. In this video, take a behind-the-scenes look at the CubeMars AKE Series as it goes through…	Actuation
4:32 PM ET	@michellelsun	Core Matter	@michellelsun4:32 PM ETCore Matter @michellelsun on X What does it take to build one robot actuator? We mapped it from the mine to the supplier. - 52 named suppliers, sourced from filings and company disclosures - 66 parts, processes and materials across 9 stages - Rare-earth magnets: 8 named…	Actuation
2:42 AM ET	@smsehy	Tesla	@smsehy2:42 AM ETTesla @smsehy on X Actuation is humanoid robotics’ largest hardware cost block. Volume production will turn that into a major precision manufacturing opportunity. Omdia put global humanoid shipments at roughly 13,000 units in 2025. The industry is still…	Humanoids
5:00 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor5:00 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X What’s inside a CubeMars AK actuator? ⚙️🤖 Take a closer look at the CubeMars AK Series — from its internal components and mechanical structure to real-world performance testing. 🔧 Disassembly — Explore the components and engineering…	Actuation
3:15 PM ET	@techniahqrobot		@techniahqrobot3:15 PM ET @techniahqrobot on X Humanoid robots are creating a new supply chain race around actuators. Actuators can account for up to 60% of a humanoid robot’s cost. Every shoulder elbow hip knee and ankle needs compact joints that can deliver high torque while staying…	Humanoids
7:00 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor7:00 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X From Gear to Motion. ⚙️🤖 Ever wondered what goes into a CubeMars motor before it powers a robot? From precision gear manufacturing to careful assembly, installation, and final performance testing, every step matters. ⚙️ Gear Manufacturing…	Actuation
6:05 AM ET	@asiagigi		@asiagigi6:05 AM ET @asiagigi on X Linear motion simulation is trivial until gravity, momentum and friction enter the loop 🦾⚡ 144.0 Hz Space Vector PWM current loop with zero backlash planetary reduction. True robotics is engineered in titanium and billet aluminum, not…	Actuation
5:56 AM ET	@smsehy	Mitsubishi	@smsehy5:56 AM ETMitsubishi @smsehy on X Automakers spent 50 years buying industrial robots. Now they are signing contracts to build them. That boundary just broke. In July 2026, Mitsubishi Motors signed an MOU with University of Tokyo robotics startup Highlanders to mass-produce…	Humanoids
9:04 PM ET	@Nabtesco_corp	Nabtesco	@Nabtesco_corp9:04 PM ETNabtesco @Nabtesco_corp on X 配信まであと1日！✨📅 明日はついに、でびでび・でびるさん＆ルンルンさんがナブテスコの工場を探検……！🔎🏭 普段はなかなか見ることのできない工場の中を大公開します👀✨ 明日20:00から！ぜひお楽しみに～！ 👉配信URLはこちらhttps://t.co/HG3QuTKwax https://t.co/zOZ8aN4vNi https://t.co/BRFYIWgjxL	Deployments
9:33 PM ET	@tslaming	Tesla	@tslaming9:33 PM ETTesla @tslaming on X TL;DR ⏳ Now you see it, now you don't 🧙 Tesla's new patent (US 2026/0285418 A1) gives the Roadster a wing that vanishes into the bodywork, then erupts into 700 kg of race-car downforce on command 🔥 🫥 Invisible on the street: The wing…	Actuation
12:10 PM ET	@kyleichan	Tesla	@kyleichan12:10 PM ETTesla @kyleichan on X Tesla team apparently in Ningbo to do supplier audits for mass-production of Optimus humanoid robots. “Tesla’s previous round of supplier audits had shifted from prototype development to manufacturing-readiness verification. The audits…	Humanoids
7:58 AM ET	@michellelsun		@michellelsun7:58 AM ET @michellelsun on X China's actuator supply base is being built by companies arriving from 5 overlapping industrial backgrounds: 1/ Reducer and motion specialists extending their core gearbox technology. 2/ Precision-transmission companies adding actuators,…	Actuation
3:05 AM ET	@techniahqrobot		@techniahqrobot3:05 AM ET @techniahqrobot on X I started mapping out everything inside a humanoid hand, and the list got long very quickly. You have the fingers and joints for movement. Motors, gearboxes and tendons generate force. Tactile, force and position sensors track contact.…	Humanoids
5:06 AM ET	@humanoidsdaily	Apptronik	@humanoidsdaily5:06 AM ETApptronik @humanoidsdaily on X America’s humanoid robot ambitions face a hardware bottleneck. Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas says actuators—the motors, gears and electronics that act as a robot’s muscles—can account for up to 60% of its parts cost. And the U.S. supply gap…	Humanoids
10:27 AM ET	@BillHughesDC		@BillHughesDC10:27 AM ET @BillHughesDC on X Recycling Robots and the Birth of New Industries A humanoid robots contain thousands of components, dense electronics, lithium batteries, pressurized systems, fatigued structural materials, and several kilograms of rare-earth magnets. When…	Humanoids
10:25 AM ET	@BillHughesDC		@BillHughesDC10:25 AM ET @BillHughesDC on X Recycling Robots and the Birth of New Industries A humanoid robots contain thousands of components, dense electronics, lithium batteries, pressurized systems, fatigued structural materials, and several kilograms of rare-earth magnets. When…	Humanoids
5:05 AM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor5:05 AM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X ⚙️ Compact Power for Next-Generation Robotics Designed for demanding robotic applications, the CubeMars AKH Planetary Module combines a compact structure with high torque transmission and efficient motion control. Its planetary…	Actuation
5:01 AM ET	@lukas_m_ziegler	RAI Institute	@lukas_m_ziegler5:01 AM ETRAI Institute @lukas_m_ziegler on X A robot that throws a baseball at 113 km/h 🥎 AthenaZero, from the @rai_inst, on the cover of Science Robotics this month. Effective mass at the wrist: 3.97 kg. The paper measures a Franka at 29.21 kg and a UR5e at 34.72 kg on the same…	Hands
12:51 AM ET	@logical_traderr	Sona	@logical_traderr12:51 AM ETSona @logical_traderr on X What Exactly Is Physical AI ? The term "Physical AI" is being used quite broadly by management, so before we evaluate Sona’s opportunity, it is important to understand what it actually means. Vivek Vikram Singh has positioned Physical AI…	Physical AI
6:30 PM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor6:30 PM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X ⚙️ From Raw Material to Precision Gear Ever wondered how the gears inside robotic systems are made? Take a behind-the-scenes look at the CubeMars gear manufacturing process — from precision machining to finishing, every step is designed to…	Actuation
3:43 AM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor3:43 AM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X ⚙️ AKH70-48 V1.0 KV41 \| Built for Precise Motion Take a closer look at the CubeMars AKH70-48 V1.0 KV41 KV41 Hollow Shaft Planetary Actuator in action. This testing clip showcases the actuator’s motion performance and compact hollow-shaft…	Actuation
2:30 AM ET	@cubemars_motor	CubeMars	@cubemars_motor2:30 AM ETCubeMars @cubemars_motor on X From Dynamic Motion to Agile Robotics 🤖 See how the CubeMars AK70-10 powers dynamic robotic applications with its compact, highly integrated design and 10:1 planetary reduction. With high torque density, responsive motion control, and…	Actuation
2:04 AM ET	@logical_traderr	Sona Comstar	@logical_traderr2:04 AM ETSona Comstar @logical_traderr on X How Sona Comstar Plans to Make Money in This Vertical ? Three Distinct Revenue Streams Novelic Acquistion was strategically important. Sona already had the body - while Novelic added an important piece of the sensing and perception layer.…	Physical AI
3:25 PM ET	@techniahqrobot	TQ-RoboDrive	@techniahqrobot3:25 PM ETTQ-RoboDrive @techniahqrobot on X People talk about humanoid AI all day, but a robot still has to move 50–70 kg of hardware through dozens of joints without cooking itself. That makes the motor and joint stack one of the most important parts of the whole machine. I went…	Humanoids
2:56 AM ET	@smsehy		@smsehy2:56 AM ET @smsehy on X Breakthrough demonstrations create market enthusiasm, but commercial scaling hinges on bill of materials discipline. In physical AI, precision cycloidal gearing, rare earth magnet sourcing, and high-volume assembly tolerance define the…	Physical AI
2:11 AM ET	@smsehy		@smsehy2:11 AM ET @smsehy on X Strain wave gearing and cycloidal reducers represent forty percent of humanoid bill of materials. Precision gear manufacturing tolerances dictate output volumes far more than neural network architecture choices. https://t.co/xwM4FWLB8q	Humanoids
11:10 PM ET	@smsehy		@smsehy11:10 PM ET @smsehy on X The hand and forearm expose the real physical limits of miniature motor winding, high-ratio planetary gearing, and thermal dissipation inside a 25mm joint envelope. Volume manufacturing only works when those electromechanical modules…	Physical AI
3:26 AM ET	@smsehy		@smsehy3:26 AM ET @smsehy on X Digital models scale exponentially by distributing weights across networks, but physical AI scaling remains gated by physical component manufacturing lead times. Sourcing specialized precision cycloidal gearboxes and high-voltage motor…	Actuation
1:30 AM ET	unitree.com	Unitree	unitree.com1:30 AM ETUnitree Brushless Digital Servo Compact and Designed for Embodied Intelligence Applications - Unitree Robotics Brushless Digital Servo Compact and Designed for Embodied Intelligence Applications - Brushless Motor Long Life, Low Inertia, High Speed, Force Control - Temperature and Position Sensors - Precision Gearbox (Backdrivable) - Highly…	Actuation
10:31 PM ET	https://x.com/LimX_Dynamics	ZiNovaLabs	https://x.com/LimX_Dynamics10:31 PM ETZiNovaLabs LimX Dynamics on X: "Together with ZINOVA's Tool Intelligence, TRON 2 takes on increasingly complex construction workflows. @ZiNovaLabs builds on TRON 2 to explore an innovative robotic configuration for construction, demonstrating key tasks in a scaled-down tilt-up construction workflow, includi… / X Post Log in Sign up Post LimX Dynamics on X: "Together with ZINOVA's Tool Intelligence, TRON 2 takes on increasingly complex construction workflows. @ZiNovaLabs builds on TRON 2 to explore an innovative robotic configuration for…	Humanoids
5:00 PM ET	Darius Popa	Schaeffler	Darius Popa5:00 PM ETSchaeffler The hardest problem in physical AI may be the magnet, not the model Skip to content AI Learning and Artificial Intelligence Credit: Canva Actuators account for 40% to 60% of a humanoid robot’s bill of materials and China refines roughly 90% of the rare earth magnets inside them, which makes the components…	Actuation
4:46 PM ET	@ctorobotics		@ctorobotics4:46 PM ET @ctorobotics on X A 200-year-old mechanical principle still matters in robotics. ⚙️🤖 The Oldham coupling, dating back to the 19th century, is designed to transmit rotation between shafts that are not perfectly aligned. Its clever sliding-disc mechanism…	Actuation
11:48 PM ET	@UnitreeRobotics	Unitree	@UnitreeRobotics11:48 PM ETUnitree Brushless Digital Servo Compact and Designed for Embodied Intelligence Applications - Unitree Robotics Brushless Digital Servo Compact and Designed for Embodied Intelligence Applications - Brushless Motor Long Life, Low Inertia, High Speed, Force Control - Temperature and Position Sensors - Precision Gearbox (Backdrivable) - Highly…	Actuation
9:03 AM ET	David Rogers	Unitree	David Rogers9:03 AM ETUnitree Actuators, Agents, and Orbit This week: Megapack at scale, Unitree G1 knee actuator, embodied harnesses, Model Hardware Standard, generative shelf brackets, data centers in space, aluminum metal fuel, Humanoids-as-a-Service	Humanoids
10:56 AM ET	@santoshsingh1		@santoshsingh110:56 AM ET @santoshsingh1 on X 4/11 – What is the key question: ❌ Which humanoid robot will win? Tesla? Unitree? Figure? Someone else? ➡️What does EVERY humanoid robot need? Because the winner may change. The supply chain doesn't. Actuators can potentially represent…	Humanoids
2:14 AM ET	@NewsHumanoid	Unitree	@NewsHumanoid2:14 AM ETUnitree IHR006 \| Monthly Insight \| August 2026 – Industry Humanoid Robotics Skip to content IHR006 \\| Monthly Insight \\| August 2026 Unitree Robotics Soars 460% in Shanghai STAR Market Debut Unitree Robotics made a striking debut on Shanghai’s STAR Market, underscoring strong investor enthusiasm for China’s…	Humanoids
9:44 AM ET	@Electromate	ELECTROMATE	@Electromate9:44 AM ETELECTROMATE @Electromate on X High-Performance Gearheads for Servo and Stepper Motors HarmonicPlanetary® HPGP / HPG / HPN / HPF / HPG Helical HarmonicDrive® CSG-GH / CSF-GH Sold & Serviced by: ELECTROMATE Toll Free Phone: (877) SERV098 Toll Free Fax: (877) SERV099…	Actuation
3:30 AM ET	https://x.com/HumanoidRTech	Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH	https://x.com/HumanoidRTech3:30 AM ETNabtesco Precision Europe GmbH Humanoid Robotics Technology on X: "Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH's strain wave gears redefine humanoid robotics and automation. Designed to meet specific application requirements, Nabtesco's strain wave gears can be individually tailored for performance, geometry, materials, interfaces, and gear… / X Post Log in Sign up Post Humanoid Robotics Technology on X: "Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH's strain wave gears redefine humanoid robotics and automation. Designed to meet specific application requirements, Nabtesco's strain wave gears can…	Actuation

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