Humanoid Robots Edge Closer to Factory Floors with Major Deployment by Schaeffler

What happened

Humanoid Robots Edge Closer Factory is at the center of this update. British tech firm Humanoid is set to deploy up to 2,000 humanoid robots across German industrial supplier Schaeffler’s global manufacturing facilities by 2032, marking a significant milestone in physical AI integration in industrial settings.

British technology company Humanoid will introduce humanoid robots into factories operated by German industrial supplier Schaeffler, as reported by Reuters. This move represents a key advancement in the adoption of physical artificial intelligence in manufacturing environments.

According to a spokesperson from Humanoid, the agreement between the two companies envisages deploying approximately 1,000 to 2,000 robots across Schaeffler’s global production sites by 2032, although financial terms of the contract remain undisclosed. The initial phase of deployment is planned between December 2026 and June 2027, targeting two Schaeffler locations in Germany: Herzogenaurach and Schweinfurt. The first robots will focus on box handling and undergo near-full-scale factory testing, respectively, according to Humanoid CEO Artem Sokolov.

Schaeffler’s Factory Integration Strategy

Humanoid will assist in integrating these robots into Schaeffler’s existing manufacturing workflows, building on a previous technology partnership announced earlier this year. Schaeffler is exploring the use of humanoid robots to perform physical tasks within production and warehouse settings, focusing initially on material handling and box movement.

As part of the supply agreement, Schaeffler will serve as Humanoid’s preferred supplier for joint actuators through 2031. This collaboration is expected to fulfill more than half of Humanoid’s requirements for wheeled humanoid platforms, with an anticipated supply of at least one million actuators during the contract period.

Physical AI Advancements and Industry Applications

The Schaeffler deployment coincides with broader industry trends where physical AI systems are being trialed across various sectors. For example, South Korean startup RLWRLD is capturing detailed worker motion data at hotels, logistics centers, and retail stores to train robots capable of mimicking human dexterity. Using body-mounted cameras, RLWRLD records fine motor movements during tasks such as folding napkins and organizing food displays. This data is transformed into machine-readable formats and supplemented by engineers’ demonstrations using VR and motion-capture technologies, enabling robots to learn complex physical tasks.

Demonstrations include wheeled robots with human-like hands performing actions such as moving cups at minibars and packing computer mice into boxes. RLWRLD anticipates industrial-scale AI robot deployments by around 2028, aligning with plans from major corporations. For instance, Hyundai Motor aims to introduce Boston Dynamics-built humanoid robots at its global factories starting in 2028, while Samsung Electronics plans to transform all manufacturing sites into AI-driven factories by 2030.

Labor Concerns and Future Prospects

Despite technological progress, labor groups in South Korea have expressed concerns about robot deployment and the use of worker data, emphasizing potential impacts on employment and skilled labor development. Trade union representatives urge that employers and governments engage with workers during AI adoption processes, highlighting the enduring value of human skill.

In hospitality, Lotte Hotel is experimenting with robots for cleaning and back-of-house tasks, with current humanoid models requiring significantly longer to complete rooms than human staff. However, the hotel anticipates that robots could take over 30% to 40% of event preparation work by 2029, although tasks requiring direct human interaction are expected to remain challenging for automation.

The deployment of humanoid robots at Schaeffler and the advances in physical AI underscore the growing convergence of robotics, AI, and industrial automation. These developments are poised to reshape factory floors and service environments worldwide over the coming decade.

Fonte: ver artigo original

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