Humanoid robots ‘serve no purpose’ says Exotec supremo
Emerging humanoid robot prototypes have been dismissed as a publicity stunt that discredits the warehouse industry by the leading automated warehousing firm.
HUMANOID ROBOTS are deliberately designed to look and operate like people and incorporate features such as dextrous fingers and the ability to carry heavy boxes around the warehouse.
This summer GXO announced a trial of Apptronik’s Apollo robot in its warehouses. Interact Analysis managing director Ash Sharma pondered the issue here.
However, Exotec CEO and co-founder Romain Moulin, said: “Developing humanoid robots is like trying to design planes to flap their wings; it's not the most cost-effective or efficient solution to a problem. Warehouse processes consist of a series of basic tasks, each of which can be addressed by a specialised, optimised machine. Trying to accomplish all these tasks with a single type of machine such as a humanoid robot is simply poor optimisation.
“I can't see any other reason for the current hype around humanoid robotics than the buzz that greeted Elon Musk's Optimus robot, and his recent announcement that Tesla will start using humanoid robots in 2025. Just like the buzz around drone delivery a few years ago, this too will gradually fade away. Warehouse robotics is a highly competitive field, leaving no room for solutions that aren't the most cost-efficient.
“At the very least, the hype around humanoid robotics brings some welcome public visibility to the warehouse industry, which is incredibly innovative and fast-paced but often overlooked by mainstream media. That said, humanoid robots are useless in a truly optimised automated warehouse environment, especially given the range of effective, non-humanoid options.”
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