IN BRIEF
Humanoid robotics refers to robots with a human-like body that are meant to move and work in environments built for people. The technology is advancing quickly but has seen little proof in continuous industrial operation so far. Our work assesses soberly whether, and where, a deployment can sensibly be tested today.
When to involve us.
When humanoid robots are on the leadership agenda, vendors propose pilots or existing workplaces could only be adapted for conventional automation at considerable cost, a sober assessment is needed.
We assess the maturity of available systems against your specific tasks, for example payload, runtime, dexterity, reliability and safety evidence. We compare the humanoid approach with specialised robots and with adapting the environment, both of which are often simpler to implement. Where a test makes sense, we design a narrowly scoped pilot with clear criteria, a defined safety zone and early involvement of employees and the works council.
What the work produces.
We agree on the scope around your goals, starting point and available capacity. The following elements illustrate what an engagement can include.
WHAT WE ADDRESS
- Maturity assessment for selected tasks
- Comparison with specialised robotics and adapting the environment
- Pilot design with safety and stop criteria
- Plan for involving employees and the works council
POTENTIAL OUTPUTS
A well-founded decision on whether to test humanoid robotics now, keep monitoring it or set it aside for the time being.
A focused starting point.
Descriptions of the candidate tasks, including volumes, loads, routes and surroundings. Any vendor proposals you have received are also useful, so that we can review their claims and assumptions together.
The question first. Then the scope.
The first conversation clarifies the objective, deliverables and people involved. We agree whether the engagement covers design, pilot support or technical implementation, who takes on each task and how the deliverables will be assessed.
Discuss a starting point by emailWhy a humanoid robot if a specialised one can do the job?
In many cases the specialised robot is the better choice, because it is designed for the task, proven and easier to cost. The humanoid approach becomes interesting when an environment is built for people and could only be rebuilt at considerable expense, for example with stairs, shelving, hand tools or changing workstations. Even then, it remains open whether current systems achieve the reliability, runtime and dexterity required. There are also questions of safety when robots share a workspace with people, where standards and evidence are still being developed. A sensible first step is therefore usually a narrowly scoped test on one task whose result can be compared with today's solution. Defining criteria early makes later decisions faster and better founded.
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