Humanoid and Schaeffler: 2,000 Humanoid Robots in Factories by 2032

Humanoid and Schaeffler: An Ambitious Partnership

The British technology company Humanoid has announced a strategic partnership with the German industrial supplier Schaeffler to deploy humanoid robots in factories. According to a report from Reuters, this agreement plans for the installation of 1,000 to 2,000 robots at Schaeffler's global manufacturing sites by 2032. The first deployment is scheduled between December 2026 and June 2027 at two German factories, in Herzogenaurach and Schweinfurt. The robots will initially handle box manipulation, a preliminary task that marks the beginning of their integration into industrial processes.

Humanoid's CEO, Artem Sokolov, explained that this initial phase will focus on box handling in Herzogenaurach and near full-scale testing in Schweinfurt. Humanoid is also committed to integrating these robots into Schaeffler's existing production lines, a project that is part of a technological partnership announced in January.

Integration and Production

Schaeffler is testing humanoid robots for physical tasks in production and warehouse environments. Initial tasks include moving boxes and handling materials within existing factory setups. As part of the supply agreement, Schaeffler will become Humanoid's preferred supplier for common actuators until 2031. This arrangement will cover more than half of Humanoid's demand for its wheeled humanoid platforms. Sokolov added that the agreement is expected to cover at least 1 million actuators during this period.

RLWRLD and Data Collection

Meanwhile, the South Korean startup RLWRLD is collecting data on worker movements across various sectors to develop physical AI systems. AP News reported that RLWRLD is recording worker movements in hotels, logistics sites, and retail environments. At the Lotte Hotel Seoul, for example, cameras capture staff folding banquet towels and setting up table services. Body cameras placed on the head and hands capture how workers move and grasp objects during detailed service tasks.

RLWRLD is collecting similar data from logistics workers at CJ, including how they lift and handle goods in warehouses. The company is also collaborating with staff from the Japanese convenience store chain Lawson to track food display organization. It is developing a software layer of AI for robots that can operate in factories and other workplaces. Its engineers have identified manual dexterity as a priority for industrial and service tasks.

Robot Training

RLWRLD uses human movement data to train its robotic systems, converting video sequences of workers into machine-readable data. Engineers then add their own demonstrations using cameras, virtual reality headsets, and motion-tracking gloves. The data captures details such as joint angles and the level of force applied during a task, according to Song Hyun-ji from RLWRLD's robotics team. The company then uses this data to train test robots, including systems guided by human operators wearing control devices.

In one demonstration, a wheeled robot with human-like metal hands moved cups in a minibar under the engineers' direction. In another, a humanoid opened a box and placed a computer mouse inside. It then closed the box and set it on a conveyor belt.

South Korea Supports Physical AI

The company views industrial deployment as its primary goal. RLWRLD expects AI robots for industrial use to be deployed on a large scale around 2028, a timeline it claims is shared by some major corporations. Hyundai Motor plans to introduce humanoids built by Boston Dynamics in its global factories in the coming years, starting with its Georgia plant in 2028. Samsung Electronics has stated that it plans to convert all its manufacturing sites into "AI-driven factories" by 2030. Its projects include humanoids and task-specific robots in production lines.

Worker Groups Express Concerns

Worker groups in South Korea have expressed concerns regarding the use of worker data and the deployment of robots. Unions have warned that the deployment of robots could affect employment and weaken the skilled labor pool. Kim Seok, director of policies at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, stated that employers and the government should engage in dialogue with workers about the adoption of AI. He asserted that skilled labor remains a human achievement.

In the hospitality sector, the Lotte Hotel is considering robots for cleaning and other behind-the-scenes tasks. Current humanoids would need several hours to clean a hotel room, a task that human workers accomplish in about 40 minutes, but the hotel hopes that robots will be ready for certain cleaning and support tasks by 2029.

The Lotte Hotel is also considering robot rental services for hospitality and other service sectors. Park, one of the hotel workers involved in the training process, stated that humanoids could eventually take on about 30% to 40% of behind-the-scenes event preparation work. He added that tasks involving direct human interaction would remain difficult to replace.