CYBORGS OF EARTH
Methodology · The Cyborg Index

How we score a humanoid

Eight capability axes, broken into 40 sub-axes. Each sub-axis is anchored 0–5 and tied to a piece of evidence with a label.

The pipeline · 5 steps
Step 1
Capture
Vendor and analyst sources are crawled daily.
Step 2
Research
One research pass per offering, reviewed by an analyst.
Step 3
Score
Each sub-axis is anchored 0–5 against the rubric.
Step 4
Calibrate
Every axis is reviewed across all offerings together.
Step 5
Publish
Scores appear on the Index, Compare and offering reports.

A published score is the levelled 8-axis read, capped by the strength of the commercial evidence behind it. Sub-axes with no evidence count as 0 against a fixed 40 sub-axis denominator.

The Cyborg Index

8 axes · 40 sub-axes

Every sub-axis has a 0–5 anchor descriptor: the wording an analyst has to see in the evidence before that score can be awarded. Specs and demos are recorded, but they are not scored as capability.

Cyborg Index — 8 axes and 40 sub-axesFlat-ground walkingFlat-ground walkingUneven terrain & slopesUneven terrain & slopesStairsStairsDisturbance recoveryDisturbance recoverySpeed & enduranceSpeed & enduranceGrasp varietyBimanual coordinationForce controlIn-hand reorientationTool useSensor stackScene understandingSpatial memoryObject permanenceSemantic world modelAutonomy levelTask horizonGeneralizationInstruction followingRecovery from failureImitation learningSim-to-realVLA / foundation policyData flywheelTransfer & fine-tuneSpeech I/ONatural-language instructionIntent recognitionSafe proximity behaviorSocial presentationNamed pilotsField hoursCustomer diversitySupportabilityCommercial postureFunctional safetyCertificationsE-stop & failsafeIncident transparencyForce / impact limitsLocomotionManipulationPerceptionAutonomyLearningHuman–RobotDeploymentSafetyCyborg IndexLocomotion5 sub-axes
Active axisSub-axis← → cycle · hover to select
Locomotion
Flat-ground walking

Steady gait on level surfaces with payload.

weight 1.00·key flat_ground_walking
Scoring detail

Anchor descriptors for this sub-axis are published with the first Cyborg Index release on 31 July 2026.

Evidence labels

Every datapoint carries a label

The UI never visually equates a vendor claim with an independently validated observation. Eight labels, applied at the row level.

unknown
We have no evidence on this question yet.
vendor claimed
The vendor says so. We have not seen it.
reported
Reported by trade press rewriting the vendor.
demo shown
Shown in a vendor or staged demo.
provisional
Independent but partial / single observation.
validated
Independently verifiable, replayable, or measured.
disputed
Sources disagree; we hold the score down.
analyst derived
Our analysts inferred this from other evidence.
Commercial Proof Map

Six stages from claim to scale

Readiness is read as a position on this runway. An axis cannot score above the stage its commercial evidence supports.

  1. Stage 1
    Claim
  2. Stage 2
    Demo
  3. Stage 3
    Pilot
  4. Stage 4
    Named deployment
  5. Stage 5
    Measured operation
  6. Stage 6
    Scale
Editorial independence

Commercial relationships have no influence over rankings, evidence labels, deployment validation or the methodology.

Change log

Methodology revisions are appended with each monthly Index release. If a score or a deployment is revised, the change is logged rather than replaced in place.

Use the framework

The Cyborg Index is published openly and is free to use and teach with attribution and a link back. Full terms on the licence page.