Humanoid robots All-rounder with hands and feet

Solitary metal arms on the assembly line are a thing of the past; with humanoid robots, a technology is entering the market that not only promises to make industry more productive, but could also help in the home, in healthcare, in the arts and in disaster situations.

By Julian Hörndlein

Imagine the scene: it’s three o’clock in the morning and a car factory is teeming with people going about their work on the assembly line. Or at least that’s how it seems at first glance. A closer inspection tells a different story. These are not in fact real people but robots designed to resemble the human body. They have two legs, a torso, two arms and a head, can climb stairs without hesitation and grasp components with great dexterity.

The similarity is so great that they are referred to as humanoid robots. “They are the next big thing,” says Andreas Renner, Director of the Steinbeis Business School in Augsburg and researcher in AI and robotics. According to Renner, the greatest strength of these humanoids is their adaptability. Factory environments are usually geared towards human employees. For the autonomous systems that have often been used to date, such as driverless transportation solutions, sudden obstacles or steps can pose a big problem. “With the latest developments in this field, the use cases for humanoid robots are becoming increasingly diverse – both in industry and beyond,” says Dr. Sebastian Reitelshöfer from the Chair for Factory Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) at Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg. For example, the use of humanoid robots makes unstaffed night shifts possible without the need for major structural changes in the factory. Robots could also step in when there is a shortage of human specialists. And this doesn’t just apply to industry; Steinbeis Director Andreas Renner has a seemingly outlandish idea. “Humanoid robotics could even make it possible for care staff to work from home,” he says.

It can dust, open doors and unpack boxes. When used in the home, the Neo Beta from manufacturer 1X wears fabric clothing to appear as human as possible.

| 1X ©

It’s unlikely that humanoid robots will be able to work completely independently in any field for the foreseeable future. But a human nurse could control a robot as it cares for a patient – and perhaps even do so from home one day a week. Renner believes that the vision of nursing staff working from home could make the profession more attractive and help address the major shortages of personnel.

No need for complex modifications – humanoid robots quickly find their feet in environments designed for humans.

Sebastian Reitelshöfer is also working on the use of robots in the care sector. He can imagine them being used for pick-up and delivery services, for example. Robots able to navigate up and down stairs and through corridors to fetch medication from the pharmacy or documents from the admin department could significantly relieve the burden on nursing staff.

Robots can even help provide therapy itself: “Human attributes make all the difference,” explains Reitelshöfer. The well-known humanoid robot Pepper has already been used in the past to work with autistic children. During the interaction, it detects stress levels and can then suggest breathing exercises, for example. In order to expand the areas of application, Friedrich Alexander University is researching the social capabilities of robots in the “FORSocialRobots” project. Among other things, the scientists are working together with the Bamberg Social Foundation to develop an innovative concept for dementia wards. The aim here too is to “take the pressure off staff and enable them to work more with patients,” says Reitelshöfer.

Their capabilities also open up a range of household applications for the humanoids. The 1.65 meter tall Neo Beta robot from the manufacturer 1X, for example, can help with housework: making tea, mopping surfaces, folding laundry or carrying objects weighing up to 20 kilograms around the home. The Chinese company Unitree has started to offer the humanoid robot H1 to end customers via its online store. The solutions range in price from 20,000 to 100,000 euros, depending on features.

Placing a sheet metal part in a fixture, handing over a bag – what sound like simple tasks are laying the foundations for much more complex future applications in factories and homes.

For Unitree, humans are not the only role models for robots; the Unitree Go2 Air resembles a dog that can move nimbly over rough terrain. This is useful in rescue operations or in situations that are dangerous for humans, such as navigating areas contaminated with radioactive fallout. Humanoid robots serve in cafés and bars. The Fourier GR-1 from the manufacturer Fourier Intelligence can work as a concierge at the hotel reception desk or guard premises as part of a security service. Robotics has even found its way into art and culture; the Dresden Symphony Orchestra used robotic arms as a conductor in the fall of 2024.

A humanoid and a dog-like robot from Unitree

Manufacturer Unitree does not just build human-like robots, but also animal-like robots. The Go2 Air (left) comes with many common dog tricks as standard, such as jumping or sitting. But it can also walk extended distances on its front feet, for example.

| Unitree Robotics

However, many solutions are still in the test phase, for example at the car manufacturer BMW, which successfully tested the humanoid robot Figure 02 in August. It picks up sheet metal parts and places them in special fixtures for car body construction. “We want to take the technology from development to industrialization,” says Milan Nedeljkovic, Board Member for Production at BMW. Figure 02 can be used in difficult, unsafe or repetitive processes to improve ergonomics and safety for employees.

While scientists are convinced by the promise of these developments, there is still a great deal of work to be done. “They have to be flexible, intelligent, fast and safe,” says Dr. Melya Boukheddimi, researcher at the Robotics Innovation Center of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Bremen. “Research interest has exploded in the last three years,” she says. Among other things, Boukheddimi is also concerned with making humans and robots compatible in the factory environment. “People need to feel safe and in control,” she says. The more similar to humans robots become, the more ethical issues there are to consider – and safety also plays a major role. More sophisticated skills mean more to think about and regulate. As Reitelshöfer puts it: “When robots can walk on two legs, the safety aspect doesn’t get any easier.”