A global comparison of humanoids: from tools to social companions

"People are fascinated by futuristic-looking humanoid robots that work in our homes, in companies and in public," says Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics. "Since the world we live in is tailored to the human body, the idea of a fast, universal helper in production and services is obvious."

Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics © IFR

Whether and when humanoids will be used on a mass scale, however, remains uncertain, says Ito. In any case, humanoids are not expected to replace the types of robots currently on the market in the future. Instead, they will complement and expand existing technologies.

Other countries, other uses

In the United States, tech companies such as NVIDIA, Amazon and Tesla are working intensively on AI and robotics technologies. In addition to funding from the military, this development is also supported by numerous private investments. This has led to a significant start-up scene specializing in humanoid robots. Interest in humanoids is particularly high in sectors such as logistics and manufacturing. Humanoid robots are used as tools to increase productivity.

In China, humanoids play a central role in the national robotics strategy. The government wants to use them to demonstrate its global competitiveness. The main area of application there is in the service sector, for example for customer care. The automation of production lines in manufacturing and the use of humanoids only appear to be of secondary importance. The core element of the Chinese strategy is the development of a scalable supply chain for key components.

Japan is a pioneer in the development of humanoid robots. Honda's Asimo was presented as an early example in October 2000. In Japan, robots are seen as companions rather than mere tools. As a result, humanoid robots such as Pepper and Palro are primarily designed as social robots and are used in educational institutions, stores and elderly care facilities. This focus reflects the demand of an ageing society that Japan is facing. An important focus of the projects is on robots that can live harmoniously with humans and are accepted as part of society. Leading companies such as Kawasaki are developing humanoid robots as a research platform.

In Europe, particular emphasis is placed on the ethical implications of robotics and AI. The focus is on collaborative robots that work together with humans in an industrial environment. The core issues are improving safety and efficiency and imitating human capabilities. However, the focus is not on compensating for human labor. Instead, the focus is on human-centered design and the social and societal impact of robots. European companies are generally rather reluctant to use humanoids when it comes to short to medium-term automation tasks in the manufacturing and service sectors.

Vision and reality

Thanks to their human-like dexterity and adaptability, humanoids are predestined to automate complex tasks that today's robots have difficulties with using conventional programming methods. However, they are unlikely to be used on a mass scale as universal household helpers in the short to medium term.