British technology company Humanoid will introduce humanoid robots to factories run by German industrial supplier Schaeffler, Reuters reported.
The agreement between the two companies will see an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 robots installed at Schaeffler’s global manufacturing sites by 2032, a Humanoid spokesperson said. The two companies have not disclosed the contract amount. Initial implementations are planned between December 2026 and June 2027 at two Schaeffler locations in Germany. Humanoid CEO Artem Sokolov told Reuters the initial stage will cover box handling in Herzogenaurach and near-full-scale factory testing in Schweinfurt.
Schaeffler prepares for factory expansion
Humanoid also supports the integration of robots into Schaeffler’s existing production lines. This development follows a previous technology partnership announced by the two companies in January.
Schaeffler is testing humanoid robots for physical tasks in production and warehouse environments. Initial tasks include moving boxes and handling materials within the existing factory setup.
Under the supply agreement, Schaeffler will be the preferred supplier for humanoid joint actuators until 2031, Sokoloff said. The deal will cover more than half of Humanoid’s demand for wheeled humanoid platforms. He added that the contract is expected to cover at least 1 million actuators during the period.
RLWRLD collects worker behavior data
Schaeffler’s latest development comes as companies in several sectors are becoming test sites for physical AI systems. AP News reported that South Korean AI startup RLWRLD is collecting employee movement data from hotels, logistics sites, and retail sites. At Lotte Hotel Seoul, food and beverage staff were recorded folding napkins and preparing tableware for a banquet. Body cameras placed on the head and hands capture footage of workers moving and grasping objects during detailed service tasks.
RLWRLD collects similar data from CJ’s logistics workers, including how they lift and handle items in the warehouse. The company is also working with staff at Japanese convenience store chain Lawson to track how food displays are organized. We are building an AI software layer for robots that can operate in factories and other workplaces. The company’s engineers recognize that manual dexterity is a priority for industrial and service operations.
robots learn physical tasks
RLWRLD uses human motion data to train robotic systems and converts footage of workers into machine-readable data. Engineers then add their own demonstrations using cameras, VR headsets, and motion-tracking gloves.
According to Song Hyun-ji from the RLWRLD robotics team, this data records details such as joint angles and the level of force applied during the task. The company then uses that data to train test robots, including systems guided by human operators fitted with controls.
In one demonstration, a wheeled robot with human-like metal hands moved a minibar cup under the guidance of an engineer. In another example, a humanoid opened a box and placed a computer mouse inside it. The box was then closed and placed on the conveyor belt.
South Korea supports physical AI
The company’s first goal is to expand into industry. RLWRLD expects industrial AI robots to be introduced on a large scale around 2028, a timeline shared by some major companies.
Hyundai plans to introduce the Boston Dynamics-built humanoid to its plants around the world over the next few years, starting with its Georgia plant in 2028. Samsung Electronics has announced that it plans to transform all manufacturing sites into “AI-driven factories” by 2030. The plan includes introducing humanoids and task-specific robots to production lines.
Labor groups raise concerns
South Korean labor organizations have expressed concerns about the use of workers’ data and the introduction of robots. Unions have warned that the introduction of robots could impact employment and weaken the pipeline of skilled workers. Kim Seok, director of policy at the Korean Federation of Democratic Labor Unions, said employers and the government should work with workers on AI implementation. He said skilled work remains a human achievement.
In the hospitality sector, Lotte Hotel is considering introducing robots for cleaning and other back-of-house tasks. Hotels hope that by 2029, robots will be able to perform some cleaning and support tasks, although current humanoid robots take several hours to clean guest rooms that human workers would complete in about 40 minutes.
Lotte Hotel is also considering robot rental services for the hospitality industry and other service industries. Park, one of the hotel employees involved in the training process, said humanoid robots could eventually take over about 30% to 40% of back-of-the-house event preparation work. He said jobs that involve direct human interaction remain difficult to replace.
(Photo courtesy of Andy Kelly)
See also: Physical AI raises questions about governance of autonomous systems
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