Are Humanoids Taking Over?
- Emenem Industrial
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
We don’t know... but they’re definitely clocking in
I’ve been in this industry long enough to see a fair share of hype. Every few years, someone claims the next big thing will “revolutionise manufacturing” and more often than not, it fizzles out. So, when we first heard about humanoid robots being tested on production floors, we were sceptical. But the more I looked into it, the more I realised... they’re not coming. They’re already here. And they’re quietly getting to work.
Let’s unpack where humanoid robots are today in real industrial settings, not theory not marketing and where they could go next.
Repetitive Tasks Are the Foot in the Door
Right now, the biggest use case is simple: repetitive, physically dull tasks. Companies like Figure AI have introduced humanoids such as Figure 02 into automotive production lines. One of them is working at BMW.
These robots aren’t welding or assembling engines just yet. They’re picking and placing parts. Aligning components. Carrying things from point A to point B. Nothing glamorous, but they’re doing it in environments designed for human workers, which is the real game changer. No need for major infrastructure changes or custom-designed robot cells.
They’re Moving Boxes and Filling Gaps in Logistics
Logistics is another area where humanoids are making early progress. GXO, a big name in the warehousing world, has been testing humanoid robots to move containers, shift recycling, and even take care of tasks that typically require night shift workers.
What’s smart about this isn’t just the automation it’s the flexibility. You can drop a humanoid into an existing workflow without re-engineering the space around it. That’s something traditional warehouse robots still struggle with.
Human-Robot Collaboration Is Already Happening
Here’s where things start to get interesting. In some pilot factories, humanoids are working right next to human operators. Not in a cage, not behind glass side by side.
They might be handing over tools, helping with basic assembly, or simply supporting tasks that benefit from having two hands and a pair of eyes. The human-like form factor means they can share our space. They don’t need their own designated work cell or exclusion zone. They fit into the team, literally and operationally.
So What’s the Big Potential?
We’re not just talking about more robots. We’re talking about a completely new category of adaptable support.
Imagine being able to train a humanoid robot like you would a temp worker. One day it’s on the line, the next it’s helping out in packaging. You don’t need to program it from scratch every time. With advancements in AI, these bots will eventually learn just by watching you do the task or by following simple voice instructions.
Now, imagine sending that same bot into a room where there’s a gas leak or an electrical fault. It can walk into spaces meant for people, operate human-sized tools, and carry out tasks that would normally put someone at risk.
And when it’s not busy with urgent work, it could be doing rounds. Checking machine temperatures. Listening for strange noises. Noticing that little puddle under the valve before it turns into a major problem.
But Let’s Be Real for a Minute
These things aren’t perfect. Not yet. They can’t lift as much as an industrial robot. They don’t last a full shift without charging. And when you compare the cost to traditional automation for high-volume tasks, they don’t always make sense.
But where they do make sense is in the in-between jobs. The ones that don’t justify a full automation setup. The jobs that require movement across the floor, or interaction with people, or flexible decision making on the fly. That’s where humanoids shine as generalists, not specialists.
So, Are Humanoids Taking Over?
No, not yet. But they are showing up. And in the right hands, with the right expectations, they’re starting to prove their worth. I like to think of them not as replacements but as reinforcements. Helping humans work smarter, not harder. Taking on the dull, the dirty, and the dangerous while we handle the rest.
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