Chris Kuda, CEO of Mind Children, discusses building a child-friendly social humanoid robot with host John Koetsier on NEXT with John Koetsier, alongside the prototype Cody.
Cody is Mind Children’s only prototype so far, built to test the software and gather feedback through demos. At about three and a half feet tall, he is designed to feel approachable to children, with possible uses in education and elder care companionship.
Cody moves on a wheeled base instead of walking on two legs, which keeps the servos small, light, and less costly. Kuda says the motors stall when blocked, and the team is exploring arms that yield to a person’s touch. The current hands are placeholders, while modular parts are intended to make future upgrades easier.
The proof-of-concept uses a mix of components, including SingularityNET and Hyperon, AWS, and ElevenLabs voice, with Mind Children’s software connecting them. Navigation runs onboard so Cody can stop safely near hazards even if the internet is slow. The team uses LiDAR and a RealSense camera, but Kuda says they do not have the resources to train a world model.
The team is focused on human-robot interaction, such as recognizing who is speaking and responding to a person’s emotional context, rather than moving heavy objects. Kuda and Koetsier discuss the risks of children forming attachments, including distress if a robot forgets them or changes personality. Classroom tools could let students adjust Cody’s character while making clear that he is a machine.
Mind Children is aiming for a price near $10,000, though Kuda says the design is still early. The team plans to build 10 to 30 production-intent units in 2026 for pilot studies, then test and prepare for production. A Korean partner is advising on design choices and manufacturing costs.
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