Humanoid Robots: Status, Use and Prospects

Humanoid robots are no longer just science fiction — companies all over the world are working on using two-legged machines in factories, logistics centers and, in the future, in the service sector. Thanks to modern AI, sensors and drive technology, the first models are currently being used in practical pilot projects.

• What distinguishes humanoid robots
• Which companies are currently driving development
• In which areas of application are humanoid robots tested
• What opportunities and risks arise for companies
• How you can prepare yourself effectively for deployment today

‍

In the following, you will find a structured overview of the current state of technology, concrete examples from practice and a classification of what humanoid robots realistically mean for companies - beyond hype and sci-fi images.

‍

‍

‍

Humanoid robots: What makes them stand out

‍

Humanoid robots are robots whose structure and mode of movement are roughly based on the human body: head, trunk, two arms, two legs. This allows them to move in environments that were originally built for people — with doors, stairs, shelves, machines, and tools.

‍

Typical features of humanoid robots are:

• two-legged movement and balanced standing
• two arms with hands or grippers for flexible manipulation
• extensive sensors (cameras, lidar, force sensors, IMU)
• AI-based control for navigation, object recognition and task planning
• often voice interfaces to interact with people

‍

The big advantage: Humanoid robots don't have to completely reinvent work environments. They can — at least in vision — take on many of the activities that people carry out today without having to radically adapt buildings, shelves or tools.

‍

At the same time, it is precisely this flexibility that is technically extremely demanding. Balance, fine motor skills and safe cooperation with people are significantly more difficult to solve than classic industrial robotics in fixed cages.

‍

‍

Important recent examples of AI robots

‍

‍

Apollo from Apptronik - humanoid robot for industry & logistics

‍

The US company Apptronik develops with apollo a humanoid robot that is specifically designed for production and logistics tasks. The first versions are already being tested in factories together with industrial partners such as Mercedes-Benz and Jabil — for example for moving components, logistics tasks and simple quality controls.

‍

Apptronik has ambitious growth plans for this: In a large round of financing, several hundred million US dollars were raised to ramp up series production of Apollo and bring larger numbers of humanoid robots onto the market in the long term.

‍

Protoclone from Clone Robotics - humanoid robots with muscle system

‍

The Polish startup Clone Robotics pursues with its Protoclone V1 An unusual approach: Instead of classic electric motors, the robot uses an artificial muscle skeleton with around 1,000 “muscle fibers” and several hundred sensors. The aim is to enable particularly natural, finely dosed movements — for example for precise manual work or sensitive tasks.

‍

In the long term, this type of humanoid robot could become relevant wherever sensitive objects, complex tools or human bodies are touched — for example in crafts, in assembly or in the future in care. However, the majority of such systems are still in development and testing.

‍

PM01 from EngineAI — humanoid robots with spectacular agility

‍

The Chinese robot PM01 EngineAI is primarily known for its spectacular ability: It can perform a clean forward flip — a performance that places high demands on balance, motion planning and real-time control. According to the manufacturer, the approximately 1.4 meter tall robot has more than 20 degrees of freedom and powerful actuators for dynamic movements.

‍

Such demonstrations are not just marketing: They show how far humanoid robots have come when it comes to dynamics and motion control. However, the decisive factor is whether these skills can be translated into real work processes in an economically viable way.

‍

Other humanoid robots: Optimus, Figure & Co.

‍

In addition to the models mentioned in the founder article, there are a whole range of other humanoid robots that shape the field:

• Figure 01/02 from the US company Figure AI, which are already being tested by automotive manufacturers in pilot projects.
• optimus by Tesla, which is based on the same AI platform as the autopilot system and is to be used in Tesla's factories in the long term.
• Digit from Agility Robotics, who takes on initial practical tasks in logistics companies, such as sorting and transportation.
• European projects such as Iggy Rob by Igus or humanoid robots from Neura Robotics and Agile Robots, which focus on industrial applications in German-speaking countries.

‍

Overall, a very dynamic market is emerging in which no standard has yet prevailed - companies are closely watching which humanoid robots make the leap from demo to stable 24/7 operation.

‍

‍

‍

Fields of application in industry and everyday life

‍

Humanoid robots are currently being tested primarily in industrial scenarios — where repetitive, physically demanding or potentially dangerous activities occur. Studies by consultancies and research institutes mention the following fields of application in particular:

‍

Typical areas of application of humanoid robots:

• production: Assembly of systems, assembly activities, handling of parts
• Logistics & warehouse: Commissioning, sorting, loading and unloading of shelves or conveyor equipment
• Maintenance & inspection: Visual checks, operation of switches and control elements in converted systems
• Health care & care (pilot projects): Transport of materials, assistance with simple handouts, support for personnel

‍

Humanoid robots are not yet widely available for everyday use — for example as service robots in homes or in hotels. Many experts assume that industrial applications will first become economically viable before larger quantities become cheaper and new fields of application arise in the service sector.

‍

‍

‍

Opportunities for companies

‍

Humanoid robots are often seen as the “next big step” in automation. From a company perspective, the most important opportunities can be divided into three groups:

1. Flexibility:
   In principle, humanoid robots can work where people work today — including narrow corridors, stairs, or existing shelves. This reduces conversion costs compared to traditional robotic systems.
2. Labor Shortage & Ergonomics:
   Many industries lack skilled workers for simple, physically demanding tasks. Humanoid robots can help here by taking on monotonous or heavy tasks and relieving people.
3. Safety & risk reduction:
   Operations in hazardous environments — such as during inspections in industrial plants, at heights or in hot weather — can be shifted to humanoid robots in the future.

‍

It is important for companies: Humanoid robots are no substitute for sophisticated processes. They develop their potential especially when workflows are standardized, tasks are clearly defined and safety concepts are properly implemented.

‍

‍

‍

Risks, limits and open issues

‍

Despite impressive demonstrations, humanoid robots are still a long way from being an “all-purpose machine.” Studies and practical reports point to several limits:

• Technical maturity:
  Many systems work well in clearly defined test environments, but reach limits when faced with unforeseen situations. Changing surfaces, tight spaces or interactions with unpredictable human behavior are particularly difficult.
• Power supply:
  Battery capacities and weight are key bottlenecks. Humanoid robots can often only work autonomously for a limited time before they need to be charged.
• Costs & business case:
  Purchase, integration and maintenance are currently still expensive. Whether a humanoid robot pays off depends heavily on the specific tasks, workload and alternatives.
• Acceptance & ethics:
  The human-like physique can trigger both trust and discomfort. Companies must communicate transparently which tasks humanoid robots perform and how data is processed.

‍

In addition, there are legal issues (liability, safety, employment law), which in many places only arise when humanoid robots appear in everyday life beyond pilot projects.

‍

‍

Humanoid robots: What companies should prepare now

‍

Even though humanoid robots are not yet in widespread use, it is worthwhile for companies to prepare the topic in a structured manner. Advisory and research reports generally recommend the following steps:

• Identify use cases:
  Where are there physically demanding, monotonous or dangerous activities today? Where could humanoid robots provide long-term support without replacing core competencies?
• Check infrastructure:
  Do digital workflows, sensors, and data connections already exist? Are there safety concepts that can be transferred to mobile robotics?
• Create pilot capability:
  Define areas in which testing with humanoid robots would be possible — spatially delimited, with clear tasks and responsibilities.
• Build up expertise:
  Teams need basic knowledge of robotics, AI, security and collaboration with robots (“human-robot collaboration”).

‍

If you start this homework early, you can react more quickly when humanoid robots become more economically attractive — and you don't have to start from scratch when the first providers make concrete offers.

‍

‍

‍

Humanoid Robots: FAQ

‍

‍

How close are humanoid robots to widespread use?

Humanoid robots are currently mostly in pilot projects and test environments. The first models are already working in factories and logistics centers under clearly defined conditions, but there is still no question of a broad standard solution for all industries. Experts expect that the next few years will be heavily characterized by testing, iterations and cost reductions.

‍

Are humanoid robots superior to traditional industrial robots?

Not generally. Classic industrial robots are extremely efficient, precise and robust — as long as the environment is tailored to them. Humanoid robots score points where human environments need to be used with little adaptation and where flexibility is more important than pure speed. In many scenarios, both approaches will complement each other rather than replace each other.

‍

Which industries are likely to benefit from humanoid robots first?

Industries with repetitive, physically demanding jobs in semi-structured environments — such as automotive and electronics manufacturing, logistics centers, certain areas of medical technology production, and parts of intralogistics in hospitals are most likely to benefit. In nursing or private households, humanoid robots are more likely to become relevant later because safety, acceptance and complexity are particularly high there.

‍

Should medium-sized companies already focus specifically on humanoid robots?

Yes — but with realistic expectations. It's less about ordering a humanoid robot right away, but about understanding fields of application and framework conditions: Which processes could be suitable later on? Which data and security concepts are still missing? Which pilot partners would be interesting? In this way, the topic can be observed strategically instead of just reacting to headlines.

‍

‍

‍

Humanoid robots: Conclusion for companies

‍

Humanoid robots are on the threshold from laboratory to practice. First models such as Apollo, Protoclone, PM01 and Optimus impressively show what is technically possible — from fine-motor movements to dynamic jumps. At the same time, studies and pilot projects show that stability, security, energy supply and costs remain significant challenges.

‍

It's worth taking a sober look for companies: Humanoid robots are an exciting component of automation in the medium term, but they are no substitute for a strategic approach to processes, data and employees. Anyone who defines pilot fields, builds up competencies and systematically observes where humanoid robots can be used economically gives themselves a clear starting advantage.

‍

The KI Company supports companies in tackling such future issues in a structured way — from analyzing potential fields of application to evaluating specific providers and accompanying initial pilot projects. If you would like to check what role humanoid robots can play in your automation strategy, you can always contact us without obligation.