The Rise of Humanoid Robots

October 24, 2024

The world is built for humans. Robots? Not so much. Most robots don’t move like humans. As a result, they struggle to operate in the real world. Think, for example, of the robots you may have seen. There are robotic vacuum cleaners shaped like small disks roaming around the home, getting snagged on dining room table chairs and other obstacles.

Then there are the robotic arms on assembly lines, designed to do the same repetitive task from a single location over and over. Far from being able to operate independently in a world built for humans, these robots require the environment they work in to be tailored to their capabilities.

This is why companies around the globe are investing billions in the development of humanoid robots that have two legs and two arms and look and move like humans. Humanoid robots are more flexible and adaptable to varied conditions. In theory, a company could build one model robot, and the user could train it to do a specific task: no special environment needed. According to a 2024 report, the global market for humanoid robots may reach $35 billion by 2035, up from about $100 million in 2023.

In “The Impact of Technology in 2025 and Beyond: an IEEE Global Study,” a recent survey of technology leaders, 37% of respondents said they are considering implementing humanoid robots into operations in 2025, while 35% expect to have an implementation of humanoid robots started and 18% expect to have them fully implemented into operations.

Faster, Lighter, Less Expensive

Driving the advance of humanoid robotics is a significant improvement in all of the components that go into them, from software to parts. The parts are more cost-effective, lighter and small enough to be integrated into a commercial product. This includes the arms and legs, perception and motion sensors and the onboard computing.

Increasingly, the robots are all-electric, rather than a mix of electric and hydraulic, which also makes them lighter.

The overall weight of components is essential. Moving heavy components requires more energy, which requires either heavier batteries or more frequent battery charging.

“Earlier robots required frequent recharges or tethered power sources. Modern battery packs offer longer duration without compromising mobility,” said IEEE Senior Member Santhosh Sivasubramini. “This development allows robots to operate longer. Today’s humanoids also feature lighter and more compact batteries. This leads to better weight distribution and improved energy management.”

Seeing Is Achieving

Older robots tended to rely on basic vision and force sensors to both navigate the environment and determine how much pressure to use to pick something up.

“Modern robots use LIDAR, stereo cameras and force-torque sensors. These enable better environment mapping, obstacle detection and object handling,” Sivasubramini added. “Advanced sensor fusion algorithms process multiple inputs in real-time. This supports quicker response and adaptation in changing scenarios.”

What We See on Video

If you’ve seen videos of humanoid robots performing parkour maneuvers and navigating complex terrain like athletes, you might want to question whether those videos reflect the robot’s actual operating environment. Frequently, these videos are produced in highly controlled environments that don’t reflect real-world conditions. Yes, the robots did perform what you saw on video, but it may have taken multiple attempts, and slight differences in the terrain would make it difficult to replicate those feats.

Today’s humanoid robots are still in the development stage. Even getting them to do simple tasks requires significant amounts of training. While artificial intelligence is making this training faster, robots perform best in controlled environments where the tasks they are assigned are extremely repetitive.

“While the videos may reflect genuine technological advancements, they don’t always represent how these robots will perform in everyday situations,” said IEEE Graduate Student Member Shally Gupta.

What Will Robots Do?

Robots remain, for now at least, limited in their capabilities. Because of these limitations, most robot tasks will be limited to things humans don’t want to do: repetitive, boring or dangerous.

One of the largest barriers to using robotics is cost. Humanoid robots are frequently deployed in warehouse applications because the environment is fairly predictable, and the work is repetitive. But purchasing robots is only the beginning of the cost structure of using them. Warehouse operators deploying robotics might need to hire specialized personnel to train and maintain the robots. Training might also require significant time and investment.

A more likely scenario is that humans and robots will work side-by-side.

“Humanoid robots need to work safely and smoothly alongside humans,” Gupta said. “They have to deal with unexpected situations and interact with people naturally. Getting this right takes a lot of research and testing, so it can be tough to make humanoid robots practical and affordable enough for everyone to use.”

Learn More: The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society has a robust technical committee dedicated to solving the challenges of humanoid robotics. Check it out.

Check out this comprehensive guide to humanoid and other robots on IEEE Spectrum