FEDOR (callsign Skybot F-850) is a Russian humanoid robot developed by the company Android Technics, with development running from roughly 2015 to 2019. "FEDOR" stands for "Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research" — and is also a nod to the Russian name Fyodor. FEDOR is a teleoperation-capable humanoid: it replicates the movements of a remote human operator and can perform some actions autonomously. Originally conceived for rescue operations in hazardous environments, FEDOR became famous in 2019 when it was sent on an experimental mission to the International Space Station.
Availability
FEDOR was a Russian state-backed research and space project, not a commercial product — there is no price or purchasing path. It was developed in connection with Russia's Emergencies Ministry (under a "Rescuer" project) and the Russian space program. FEDOR/Skybot F-850 flew to the ISS in 2019 aboard a Soyuz spacecraft for an experimental mission, during which its developers observed how it performed skilled tasks in microgravity.
Full Specifications
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Android Technics (Russia) |
| Development period | ~2015–2019 |
| Callsign | Skybot F-850 |
| Type | Teleoperated humanoid robot with some autonomous capability |
| Operation | Replicates the movements of a remote human operator; can perform certain tasks autonomously |
| Derived from | An earlier robot, "Alyosha" (callsign MPM-100) |
| Original purpose | Rescue operations in high-risk conditions (fires, natural disasters) |
| Notable mission | Sent to the International Space Station in 2019 for an experimental ~two-week evaluation |
Significance
FEDOR was Russia's most internationally visible humanoid robot of the 2010s. Its trip to the ISS made it part of a small group of humanoid robots to reach space. The project's stated purpose — a teleoperated robot able to stand in for humans in dangerous rescue situations or in space — reflected a serious engineering goal, though FEDOR also drew attention (and some controversy) from demonstrations showing it doing things like firing handguns. Android Technics, FEDOR's maker, also developed other robots such as the AR-600. FEDOR's lineage feeds into Russia's continuing, if intermittent, humanoid-robotics efforts.
FEDOR vs Related Robots
- FEDOR vs NASA Valkyrie: Both are state-space-program humanoids of the 2010s; Valkyrie was built for the DARPA Robotics Challenge and Mars-mission research, FEDOR for rescue work and an ISS evaluation.
- FEDOR vs Toyota T-HR3: Both are teleoperation humanoids that mirror a remote operator's movements.
- FEDOR vs Promobot Robo-C: Both are Russian humanoids, but very different — FEDOR is a full-body teleoperated machine, Robo-C a realistic stationary service android.
Source: Android Technics
