Insider Brief
- SilverKind Robotics unveiled MobiNana™, a piggyback-style personal mobility robot, as the first product in its G.R.A.N.N.Y. platform aimed at combining caregiving behavior with urban transportation.
- The system features a full physical AI stack with vision-language-action models, LiDAR and adaptive gait control, and is designed to carry up to 200 pounds at pedestrian speeds for up to eight hours.
- The company said early testing is underway in a major U.S. city, with plans to expand deployments and develop additional models including health-focused systems and a companion product, MobiPopPop.
PRESS RELEASE — SilverKind Robotics has unveiled MobiNana™, a personal mobility robot designed to carry users through urban environments, as part of a broader push into “companion-based transportation systems.”
The New York-based robotics company announced today, April 1, it has emerged from stealth with MobiNana is the first product in its G.R.A.N.N.Y. platform — short for Grand Robotic Assistant for Navigation & Nurturing Youth — a planned line of robots that combine caregiving behaviors with last-meter mobility. The system is designed to transport a single passenger piggyback-style while navigating sidewalks and dense pedestrian areas.
The robot integrates a full physical AI stack, including vision-language-action models, real-time motion planning and adaptive gait control, allowing it to operate in complex urban settings. The platform also incorporates LiDAR, multimodal perception and edge-based decision-making to manage balance, obstacle avoidance and rider safety.
SilverKind’s MobiNana can carry up to 200 pounds, travel at pedestrian speeds and operate for up to eight hours on a single charge. It is designed to function both as a mobility device and as “a companion robot of a different sort,” capable of providing reminders, conversational interaction and basic daily assistance.
Already being tested in a major U.S. city, one user described it as “not just a way to get around” but also “the full grandmother experience.”
“Not only does my MobiNana get me where I need to be, she also reminds me to take my vitamins, tells me that I need to eat a real lunch and has a seemingly endless supply of hard candy and gum on hand at moment’s notice.” said test user Dave, who works in finance. “And because she carries that massive purse, I don’t have to carry my briefcase anymore. Just incredible.”
Another user said MobiNana’s appearance means crowds are no longer a problem and has even translated into shorter waits in line. “People just get out of your way,” said tester Rob. “And when I get to where I’m going, I can just place her in a corner, plug her in and by the end of the day, I’ve got a new scarf or hat knitted just for me. I love my MobiNana.”
The broader SilverKind G.R.A.N.N.Y. roadmap includes additional systems focused on health monitoring, coordinated fleet movement and enterprise deployments, as it looks to expand beyond individual users into commercial and institutional markets.
Cofounder & CEO of SilverKind Robotics Alfred Hawthorne said April 1 was the perfect day to announce the launch and that the company’s approach is rooted in making robotics more familiar and socially acceptable in everyday environments while addressing an overlooked market.
“While there has been great focus on building robots to help with the care of senior citizens, we wanted to flip the script,” Hawthorne pointed out. “Why not robots who provide the grandmotherly nurturing that many young people may be missing in their lives — grandmotherly nurturing that can also get you from point A to point B?”
A MobiPopPop model is already under development and SilverKind plans to expand deployments in more select cities later this year.
