automation

UK startup Humanoid and industrial giant Schaeffler have successfully completed a proof-of-concept for bin picking. The trial used a pre-alpha robot and will now move to a second phase with the new HMND 01 Alpha platform.

An ISO working group is meeting in Barcelona to write safety standards. Memos from Figure's former safety lead, published earlier this year, provide a sober contrast to recent hype, detailing the immense difficulty in safely managing bipedal robots that can fall, misinterpret commands, or pose battery risks.

CEO Brett Adcock announces a Figure humanoid has been operating 10 hours a day on the BMW X3 production line, a milestone that follows earlier scrutiny over the scale of the deployment.

A new report from an IEEE study group outlines a crucial framework for developing safety and performance standards for humanoid robots, focusing on classification, stability, and human-robot interaction to pave the way for their safe deployment in human environments.

Pioneering roboticist Rodney Brooks argues current humanoids will fail to learn true dexterity, citing a lack of touch sensing. Other experts counter, suggesting that even limited capability will unlock immense value, sparking a debate over the industry's path forward.