Collaborative robots and automated mobile robots (AMRs) are more efficient and cost effective for manufacturing and logistics than humanoid robots, which have large opportunities in other applications. See five industrial automation needs and five ways automation helps industry now.
Cobots, AMRs for manufacturing, warehousing insights
- Don’t get caught in humanoid robot hype; understand the limits and promises of humanoid robotics explained Ujjwal Kumar, ME, group president, Teradyne Robotics (Universal Robots and MiR), at Automate 2025, by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).
- Explore why collaborative robots and automated mobile robots (AMRs) fit today’s automation needs.
- Learn about five industrial automation needs and five ways automation helps industry now.
Humanoid robots aren’t yet ready for widespread manufacturing use, and Ujjwal Kumar, ME, group president, Teradyne Robotics (Universal Robots and MiR, Figure 1), explained why at Automate 2025, by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). His keynote presentation, “Tech hype versus industrial need: Separating science fiction from scalable solutions,” was part of the annual show and conference, this year in Detroit, May 12-16. Automate 2025 had more than 875 exhibitors, more than 40,000 registrants, and more than 140 conference sessions on robotics, machine vision, artificial intelligence and other industrial automation topics.
Robotics and other automation for manufacturing have five basic needs that humanoids cannot yet meet, Kumar suggested: Safety/reliability, measurable results with productivity and accuracy, improved work environments, easy fit in existing infrastructure and ease of use and integration.
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) move material autonomously and reliably. Mobile cobots mounted on AMRs are operating in applications now and have proven their maturity over the past 10 years, Kumar said.
The role of physical artificial intelligence (AI), teaching, learning and adaptation is here now. This includes dynamic path planning and adaptive behaviors. Kumar showed a video of a robot installing drill bit in a hand drill, picking up a block of wood and drilling. Another video clip showed a robot folding eyeglasses closed and putting them into a case.
Don’t get caught up in humanoid robot hype
Kumar acknowledged we’re in an era of unprecedented technological development, where robotic advancements are poised to transform our lives and workplaces beyond measure. Amid the excitement, differentiating between hype and reality is important, Kumar said; automation needs to drive real value. How can AI-enabled advanced robotics impact industry and how can scalable, open platform technologies advance automation?
Kumar said robotics and AI make headlines almost daily. Humanoids look like they’re ready for plant floor use today, but scaling humanoid robots to industrial settings remains a challenge. Headlines about humanoid robots can distract from real needs. Kumar warned: “We don’t have the luxury of chasing science fiction. We need to deliver return on investment (ROI) now.”
Kumar drew comparisons between his first job at GM in 1999 and today. “Now I see a lot of problems ready to be solved, and the whole ecosystem has to work together. We are in the front seat with several of you to solve labor, ergonomic and other challenges.” The labor equation is broken across industries with too few skilled workers available (Figure 2). United Nations 2024 numbers show that developed economies are losing workforce capacity as demand surges. Population 65 and over will exceed those 24 and younger soon after 2035, he noted.
Across industries, there are fewer hands to keep factories running, and even fewer to do physically demanding jobs, Kumar said. “There’s a widening gap between the work that needs doing and available workers. We must align factories with the expectation of the next generation.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Bureau of Labor Statics said 622,000 manufacturing jobs are unfilled, according to March 2025 data, and that’s before recent reshoring efforts, Kumar said.
“We have a 20% labor force shortage for durable goods manufacturing,” Kumar said. “We need automation solutions to step in immediately, not later. We need scalable solutions that work today.”
Limits and promises of humanoid robotics
The allure of the humanoid robot is strong, driven by science fiction, Kumar said. Goldman Sachs predicted a $38 billion market for humanoid robots by 2035. Morgan Stanley said 63 million humanoid robots will be deploy by 2050, globally, with 75% of job categories affected, Kumar cited.
Strong candidates for early use of humanoid robots include elder care, disaster response and, eventually, manufacturing. To get from today’s concepts to widespread plant-floor applications, humanoid robots have a long way to go. He admitted that Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics and others offer some humanoid robotic solutions.
“These are important steps, but early ones. With today’s labor shortages, we cannot start with what is possible. We need to start with what is needed. Form follows function, not the other way around.”
With humanoid robots, battery life is typically 2 to 4 hours, payload is generally around 20 kg, deployments are in the pilot phase and regulations are immature, not meeting the needs for widespread humanoid deployment to manufacturing or warehousing. Humanoid robots require active control and are potentially unstable in many applications, he added. He cited Deutsche Bank in February 2025 that said the humanoid robot market would expand from $75 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion by 2050.
Five industrial automation needs
“I don’t see humanoid robots significantly impacting manufacturing anytime soon,” Kumar said. “Task robotics are more efficient and cost effective. Humanoid robots have compelling opportunities in many applications, but not for manufacturing and logistics, not yet.”
According to feedback from manufacturers, automation now has five needs.
1. Safety and reliability
2. Real, measurable results with productivity and accuracy
3. Improved work environments
4. Fit existing infrastructure
5. Ease of use with fast flexible deployment and seamless integration… without a battalion of custom programmers.
From the 2024 Universal Robots manufacturer survey (Figure 3), respondents want real measurable results:
54% to improve product quality
50% to increase productivity and meet rising demand
49% to improve accuracy
36% to improve finances (cutting costs, raising profits).
Why collaborative robots and AMRs fit today’s automation needs
At present, Kumar said, humanoid robots are highly variable, without economy of scale, requiring months or years of planning, but automation needs to implement changes more rapidly. Today’s automation should address immediate needs with flexibility.
Automation needs to deliver on payload, precision, ease of integration, production flow and be tailored for the environment, Kumar said. Robots are better off with wheels now. Collaborative robots, cobots, are designed as systems to work alongside people. Collaborative robots handle needed tasks in work cells, precisely, without added complexities. Collaborative robots are the right tool for the job, Kumar said.
Platforms matter from stand-alone robots to scalable solutions using an open ecosystem, with efforts from partners to adapt technologies to a wide variety of applications.
Over 50 solutions are available with UR to solve real customer problems using an open platform, speed, ease of integration and depth of offerings within an ecosystem because no one company can do all.
For example the PE20 Robotiq Palletizing solution at the Universal Robots Automate 2025 offered an 18 kg payload operating at 12 cycles per minute with vision guidance. It fits into existing end-of-line configuration, with no custom code required, Kumar said.
The three- to five-year vision from Teradyne Robotics is not catching up, but staying ahead (Figure 4).
“Automation won’t be optional. It’s foundational. Automation empowers, does not replace, the workforce,” Kumar said.
Combined AMRs and robots already are available. The Mobile Manipulator just won a RBR50 innovation award. Don’t build around the robot. Build around the problem.
Five ways automation helps industry now
Kumar provided five ways automation can help industry now.
1. Start with function: Build solutions around your tasks.
2. Harness technology: Use mature, functional well-integrated automation. Too many industries are stuck in Industry 3.0.
3. Embrace open ecosystem: Leverage platforms that accelerate integration.
4. Invest in flexibility: Choose programs that evolve with you.
5. Upskill the workforce: Train people to collaborate with automation tools.
Use a standard configurable platform for hardware and software, Kumar suggested. Customers include Analog Devices, Matthews International, Nvidia and Siemens.
The ecosystem of UR, called UR+, has more than 300 partners, 500 applications, more than 400 system integrators and more than 200 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with 100,000 cobots shipped.
MiR’s ecosystem, MiR Go, has more than 60 partners, more than 150 applications, more than 50 system integrators and four OEMs with 11,000 MT AMRs shipped.
Kumar said: “Our solution is to work with you and partners to develop the tools that we all need today.”
Mark T. Hoske is editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, [email protected].
MAG PULLQUOTE IF NEEDED
With today’s labor shortages, we cannot start with what [automation] is possible. We need to start with what is needed. Form follows function, not the other way around.”
KEYWORDS
Collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots, cobots on wheels
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