Panasonic Targets Humanoid Robot Production by 2029, Citing Battery Safety

Panasonic Holdings plans to develop humanoid robots and aims to begin production by 2029, its chief AI officer Akira Sakakibara told Nikkei Asia. The company initially intends to market the machines for factory production lines and warehouses.

Key Takeaways

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• Panasonic is targeting humanoid robot production by 2029, with factories and warehouses as its initial markets.
• A newly established AI and robotics R&D division will lead development.
• Sakakibara points to Panasonic Energy’s battery safety record as a potential advantage, while saying concrete achievements are not yet available to disclose.

The project remains at an early stage. Sakakibara told Nikkei there was “nothing we can disclose yet” about concrete achievements, although research and development has begun on AI models and other technologies needed for the robots. The effort will be led by an AI and robotics R&D division established on October 1.

Battery safety is central to Panasonic’s argument for entering a field where competitors are already further along. Sakakibara expressed confidence that the company could develop safer humanoids, citing the risk of battery fires as a barrier to wider adoption. He said batteries produced by subsidiary Panasonic Energy had not been involved in any serious fire incidents to date.

Panasonic already markets components for humanoid robotics, including power-management devices, thermal materials, tactile pressure sensors and compact motors. Its component offering gives the planned robot program an existing base of relevant technologies, although the report does not specify which will be used.

Panasonic Energy also identified humanoids as an emerging battery application when it announced a new battery R&D hub in September. The new humanoid plan would extend the group’s involvement from supplying underlying technologies to developing complete machines.

The 2029 target gives Panasonic a timetable, but the next milestone to watch is a disclosed robot design or working demonstration showing what the program can deliver.