Physical AI moves closer to factory floors as companies test humanoid robots

British technology company Humanoid will deploy humanoid robots at factories operated by German industrial supplier Schaeffler, Reuters reported.

The two companies’ agreement covers an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 robots in Schaeffler’s global manufacturing sites by 2032, according to a Humanoid spokesperson. The companies have not disclosed the contract value. The first deployment is scheduled between December 2026 and June 2027 at two Schaeffler sites in Germany. Humanoid CEO Artem Sokolov told Reuters that the initial phase will cover box handling in Herzogenaurach and near-full-scale factory testing in Schweinfurt.

Schaeffler prepares factory rollout

Humanoid will also support the integration of the robots into Schaeffler’s existing production lines. The deployment follows a previous technology partnership the two companies announced in January.

Schaeffler is testing humanoid robots for physical tasks in production and warehouse environments. The first tasks include moving boxes and handling materials in existing factory setups.

Under the supply agreement, Schaeffler will become Humanoid’s preferred supplier for joint actuators through 2031, Sokolov said. The arrangement will cover more than half of Humanoid’s demand for its wheeled humanoid platforms. He added that the agreement is expected to cover at least 1 million actuators over the period.

RLWRLD collects worker motion data

The Schaeffler rollout 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 worker motion data from hotels, logistics sites, and retail settings. At Lotte Hotel Seoul, food and beverage staff have been recorded while folding banquet napkins and preparing tableware. Body cameras placed on the head and hands capture how workers move and grip 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 working with staff at the Japanese convenience store chain Lawson to track how food displays are organised. It’s building an AI software layer for robots that can operate in factories and other worksites. Its engineers have identified hand dexterity as a priority for industrial and service tasks.

Robots learn physical tasks

RLWRLD uses human movement data to train its robot systems, converting worker footage into machine-readable data. Engineers then add their own demonstrations using cameras, VR headsets, and motion-tracking gloves.

The data captures details like 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 the 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 at a minibar while guided by engineers. 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 backs physical AI

The company sees industrial deployment as the first target. RLWRLD expects AI robots for industrial use to be deployed at scale around 2028, a timeline it says is shared by some major businesses.

Hyundai Motor plans to introduce humanoids built by Boston Dynamics at its global factories in the coming years, starting with its Georgia plant in 2028. Samsung Electronics has said it plans to convert all manufacturing sites into “AI-driven factories” by 2030. Its plans include humanoids and task-specific robots in production lines.

Labour groups raise concerns

Labour groups in South Korea have raised concerns about the use of worker data and robot deployment. Unions have warned that robot deployment could affect employment and weaken the pipeline for skilled labour. Kim Seok, policy director at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said employers and the government should engage with workers over AI adoption. He said skilled work remains a human achievement.

In hospitality, Lotte Hotel is looking at robots for cleaning and other back-of-house work. Current humanoids would need several hours to clean a guest room that human workers complete in about 40 minutes, but the hotel hopes robots will be ready for some cleaning and support tasks by 2029.

Lotte Hotel is also considering robot rental services for hospitality and other service industries. Park, one of the hotel workers involved in the training process, said humanoids might eventually take over about 30% to 40% of back-of-house event preparation work. He said tasks involving direct human interaction would remain difficult to replace.

(Photo by Andy Kelly)

See also: Physical AI raises governance questions for autonomous systems

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