TUF-X
Humanoid Robot
A significant example of applied innovation and design is TUF-X, an android robot designed and developed for Turvo International, a leading manufacturer of gearmotors based in Taichung, Taiwan.
The concept
The Imaginary of the Humanoid
At the end of the nineteenth century, many intellectuals were convinced that technological progress would lead to the creation of anthropomorphic machines capable of assisting human beings in carrying out strenuous, repetitive and alienating tasks. People would thus be free to devote themselves to activities more worthy of human potential.
This idea, nurtured for almost two centuries, takes tangible form in the android robot TUF-X. The machine is required to interact with humans through forms, physiognomy and overall dimensions that not only avoid intimidation, but also generate a certain degree of empathy. However, a humanoid robot cannot resemble a human being too closely.
The ability to replicate human gestures and expressions with excessive realism risks crossing into the uncanny valley, as defined by scientist Masahiro Mori. In his 1970 study, Mori observed that the sense of familiarity evoked by robots and anthropomorphic automata increases as their resemblance to the human figure grows—up to a point where realism transforms empathy into unease and repulsion.
The project
Designing the Human-Machine Relationship
Beyond engineering innovation, achieved through the use of advanced materials and cutting-edge technological solutions, design—by defining a new aesthetic for the human–machine relationship—is also intrinsically connected to the ethical dimension. With these premises, the MM Design team sought the right balance of interaction, reflected, for example, in the study of TUF-X’s facial expressions and vocal tone.
A total of 109 assembled components enable the combined movement of the head, arms, torso and legs. This series of robots is intended for industrial applications, particularly within the automotive sector. MM Design’s ability to anticipate unexpressed needs, combining creative and ethical expertise within the innovation process, proves to be a critical success factor. Thanks to a vision that goes beyond the product itself, the studio stands as a key partner for companies committed to thriving in the market while creating lasting and meaningful value for the end user.
TUF-X was unveiled as a preview at SPS 2025, held in Nuremberg.
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