Overview
- Meta contracted Fourier to deliver a small number of 1.5‑meter, ~48 kg Max prototypes for internal research use and says it has no plan to sell the robots.
- The Max units use an NVIDIA Jetson Thor module, a facial expression display and five‑finger hands, and Meta began work on a follow-up Max 2 prototype in September.
- Industry sources describe Fourier’s role as an ODM that supplied only a few sample units to Meta and AWS rather than a large, long‑term co‑development deal.
- Fourier faces reported financing pressure and some R&D layoffs even after share restructuring, which helps explain why it pursues ODM work with major tech clients.
- Chinese players such as Xiaomi and Lingxing Kaiwu are moving past demos into trial operations and fleet management software, with Xiaomi reporting multi‑room household tasks and an 8‑hour factory validation and Lingxing running multi‑robot logistics demos in public venues.