Fourier

Founded in 2015 by Alex Gu (Gu Jie) and Zen Koh, Fourier is a robotics company headquartered in Shanghai that has transitioned from a medical focus to broader applications. Gu, a graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a background as a sales executive at National Instruments, had prior experience developing rehabilitation robots, having founded and sold a previous startup in the same field. This expertise in rehabilitation technology laid the groundwork for Fourier's initial strategy.

The company initially concentrated on developing and manufacturing intelligent rehabilitation robots, such as exoskeletons for upper and lower limbs, to address the needs of patients with neurological impairments. Its business model centers on selling these advanced robotics and AI technologies to healthcare providers and institutions. A key component of their offering is the RehabHub™, an intelligent platform that connects their devices, allowing therapists to create unified user accounts and track patient progress comprehensively. To foster wider innovation, Fourier also launched the Exoskeleton & Robotics Open Platform System (EXOPS), an open-source framework for developers.

In July 2024, the company rebranded into two specialized units: Fourier Rehab and Fourier. Fourier Rehab continues the company's original mission in the healthcare sector, focusing on user-friendly exoskeletons and rehabilitation solutions to assist patients recovering from conditions like strokes and spinal cord injuries. This division serves over 2,000 organizations and hospitals across more than 40 countries.

The 'Fourier' unit is now dedicated to the development of general-purpose humanoid robots. This strategic pivot began internally in 2019 and culminated in the 2023 launch of their first mass-produced humanoid robot, the GR-1. Standing 1.65 meters tall and weighing 55 kilograms, the GR-1 is designed for a variety of tasks, with capabilities for walking, obstacle avoidance, and carrying payloads up to 50 kg. It integrates advanced features like a multimodal large language model for natural language interaction, a pure vision perception solution for navigation, and proprietary Smart Actuators (FSA) for precise and powerful movements. Following the GR-1, Fourier has already unveiled upgraded models, the GR-2 and GR-3, signaling rapid iteration and a commitment to expanding into applications like senior care, disaster relief, and research.

Keywords: humanoid robotics, rehabilitation technology, exoskeletons, medical robotics, artificial intelligence in healthcare, robotic automation, Alex Gu, GR-1 humanoid robot, RehabHub, Fourier Smart Actuator, general-purpose robots, motion control systems, physical therapy technology, assistive robotics, neurorehabilitation, robotics open platform, healthcare innovation, human-robot interaction, intelligent actuators, embodied AI