TALOS is PAL Robotics' advanced torque-controlled humanoid robot, introduced in 2017 and named after the giant bronze automaton of Greek mythology that guarded Crete. TALOS is a full-size humanoid designed not just for research but with the explicit intention of eventually performing useful physical work — tightening screws in hard-to-reach places, handling heavy tools, and assisting workers in demanding industrial settings. The first TALOS, named "Pyrène," went to work at the LAAS-CNRS robotics laboratory in Toulouse, France.
Price Range
TALOS is sold by PAL Robotics as a research-and-industrial platform — "if you want to work with humanoids but you don't want to build a robot from scratch, PAL Robotics would be happy to sell you one." Pricing is quote-based; as a full-size torque-controlled humanoid, TALOS is a significant capital purchase.
| Basis | Figure |
|---|---|
| Confirmed list price | Not publicly published; quote-based |
| Market | Research institutions, with an industrial-task roadmap |
| Availability | Available from PAL Robotics |
Full Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Year | 2017 |
| Height | ~1.75 m |
| Weight | ~100 kg |
| Motors | 32 |
| Degrees of freedom | 32 |
| Actuation | Torque-controlled joints; torque sensor feedback in every joint |
| Arms | 7-DOF arms; ~6 kg payload per arm at full extension |
| Walking speed | ~3 km/h; dynamic walking, including on irregular surfaces and stairs |
| Battery | Up to ~3 hours (task-dependent) |
| Communications | Full EtherCAT; control loops in the kilohertz range |
| Software | ROS-enabled; modular and upgradeable in hardware and software |
| Sensing | Torque sensors in all joints; inertial measurement unit |
| Capabilities | Can use power tools — drilling, screwing |
Model Breakdown
TALOS is PAL Robotics' torque-controlled, industrial-leaning full-size humanoid — a step beyond the position-controlled REEM-C. PAL designed it to start in research and transition into real-world industrial tasks. It sits alongside REEM-C (research biped) and TIAGo (mobile manipulator) in PAL's lineup.
Buyer's Guide: What to Know
Torque control is TALOS's defining feature. Torque sensing in every joint enables compliant, force-aware manipulation — important for tool use and for working in contact with the environment.
It is built with industrial work in mind. Unlike pure research humanoids, TALOS was explicitly designed to head toward physically demanding real-world tasks (drilling, screwing, tool handling).
It is a buyable full-size humanoid. PAL Robotics positions TALOS for institutions that want a capable humanoid without building one — a meaningful option in a field where many robots aren't for sale.
EtherCAT and ROS make it integration-friendly. Kilohertz-range control loops and ROS support suit demanding research and development.
TALOS vs Similar Robots
- TALOS vs PAL REEM-C: TALOS is torque-controlled with an industrial-task orientation; REEM-C is position-controlled and research-focused.
- TALOS vs Apptronik Apollo: Both are full-size humanoids aimed at real industrial work with force-aware actuation; Apollo is on a faster commercial-deployment path.
- TALOS vs Unitree H1: Both are full-size humanoids; TALOS emphasizes torque control and European research-grade support, the H1 emphasizes low cost.
Source: PAL Robotics
