A humanoid pilot is most worth considering when a task combines movement and manipulation across changing workstations, and the specific platform on offer can be tested on site. For repetitive machine tending or moving items between fixed handover points, a cobot or mobile transport robot should also be considered. Before any deployment, you’ll need to clarify matters such as the risk assessment, safety measures, conformity documents and ongoing support.
You define a physically demanding or risky task and assess human–robot interaction before employees work in the pilot area. The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA) identify risk assessment and the integration of tools and moving objects as important points to check.
You want to establish whether a robot needs to work across several stations, or whether fixed-position manipulation and separate transport will be enough. Fraunhofer IPA, OMRON Europe and Universal Robots document different industrial tasks and automation approaches that can help inform this comparison.
You’re looking for support with processes that are difficult to staff, but need a suitable use case and clear responsibilities for integration and ongoing support. Bitkom surveys German industrial businesses on skills shortages; documented examples from BMW Group, Agility Robotics and GXO each relate to specific tasks and sites.
A better fit if: the task combines movement and manipulation across several existing workstations, and you can test the specific sequence on site.
Consider: A human-like design does not in itself guarantee safe collaboration or the required throughput. Grippers, workpieces, routes and safety measures all need to be assessed too.
A better fit if: technical support matters more than owning the platform for a time-limited trial.
Consider: Services, response times, software access and responsibilities need to be agreed in the contract. Renting does not replace safety or conformity checks.
A better fit if: a cobot is to handle repetitive machine tending, or a mobile robot is to transport items between designated handover points.
Consider: Specialist solutions still need suitable integration and site-specific safety measures; this does not prove a blanket cost or safety advantage.
| Priority | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace safety | Include the operating area, end effector, workpieces and operating concept in the risk assessment. | If I’m letting employees work in a shared area, I want to assess risks across the entire process; around 33% of consumers prioritise safe operation and collaboration. |
| Task and integration | Define the parts, handover points, routes, cycle-time requirements and interfaces; compare the same process with a specialist solution. | If a process connects several stations, I want to know whether movement and gripping really need to happen in the same process; around 27% of consumers prioritise task coverage and integration. |
| Reducing the workload | Before the test, decide which handovers, staff interventions, errors and stoppages will be measured. | If a task is difficult to staff, I want to understand how much staff input will still be needed for that specific process; around 27% of consumers focus on support with staff shortages. |
| Support and operating model | Set out the services, responsibilities and software access for the specific version in writing. | If a pilot requires external support or in-house integration, I want to know who will handle setup, updates and faults; around 13% of consumers prioritise support and the scope of the contract. |
The Figure-02 deployment documented by BMW Group involved handling sheet-metal parts at a specific US site. Figure describes a different task using Figure 03 as a demonstration; this does not prove that other models or factories will be suitable.
Ask for a test using your parts, handover points and typical fault scenarios. Be clear about the difference between a demonstration, a pilot and planned ongoing operation.
Testing, integration and support may add to the cost and effort.
Mobile transport robots and stationary cobots are designed for different tasks. This alone does not establish whether either option is suitable or what the overall effort would be at your factory.
For the same task, compare a humanoid with a suitable cobot or mobile transport robot, and factor in the safety concept for each option.
Integrating grippers, navigation and interfaces may increase the effort involved in the pilot.
Unitree distinguishes between G1 and G1-EDU configurations. Documented SDK support does not prove which features and interfaces are included with every version on offer.
Get written confirmation of the model and configuration, interfaces, documentation and support for the specific version.
Different hands, software or interfaces may require additional modifications.
The Digit RaaS case documented by Agility Robotics and GXO relates to a logistics site in the US, not to the obligations of a pilot operation in Germany.
Set out the provider’s and operator’s responsibilities in the contract. Complete the site-specific risk assessment before deployment.
Without clear responsibilities, setup, maintenance and safety measures may remain unresolved during the pilot.
Digit is a potential candidate for container handovers and similar handling tasks.
G1 and G1-EDU configurations may suit development-led manipulation trials and should be considered separately.
4NE1 may be worth considering when enquiring about an industrial pilot in Germany.
Figure 02 is a historical reference case for handling sheet-metal parts. Figure 03 should be considered separately as a different model with its own evidence base.
Walker S2 is a manufacturer option to consider when enquiring about industrial handling trials.
The products below include humanoid platforms, including models for development and movement trials. Their suitability for a specific manufacturing process, the safety measures required and the relevant conformity documents must be assessed separately before a pilot.
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Described as a development platform for your own programming and AI trials; the product description lists computer vision and autonomous navigation as areas for development.
The product title lists 48 TOPS and 22 degrees of freedom. These figures alone do not prove suitability for a particular industrial task.
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Described for development and research trials; the product description lists software APIs, development tools and programming for complex tasks.
The product title lists 117 TOPS and 22 degrees of freedom. Before integrating it, check which APIs and tools are included with the configuration on offer.
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Relevant for trials involving movement and motion control; the product title lists autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The accompanying description lists 27 degrees of freedom and a 437 mm arm reach for the X2 configuration. Check whether these figures apply to the specific version on offer.
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The product title lists autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance and support for secondary development.
The description requires supervision during autonomous operation and warns that obstacles such as transparent surfaces and drop-offs may not be detected. Its payload figures are for the X2 Ultra configuration; check before testing whether they apply to the X2 version on offer.
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Described for development and exploratory trials; the product title lists two cameras and an integrated AI language model.
The product title lists 26 degrees of freedom. For an industrial pilot, check whether the version on offer supports the interfaces and tasks you need.
No. A CE mark must be assessed in the context of the EU legislation that applies to the specific product. Check the relevant conformity documents; you’ll also need a workplace risk assessment covering the work area, end effector and moving objects.
For machinery first placed on the EU market before 20 January 2027, the European Commission cites Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. The Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 becomes mandatory from 20 January 2027. Whether and how a specific robotic system, including any modifications, is covered must be checked against its configuration.
This depends on the AI functions enabled and the legal role of the business. The European Commission describes an obligation for providers and operators to promote AI literacy among people working with AI systems. For high-risk AI in regulated products such as robotics, it gives 2 August 2028; this does not mean every humanoid robot automatically qualifies as high-risk AI.
Record the task, parts, routes, handovers, operation, training, safety measures, interventions in the event of faults and responsibilities. Check with the provider what setup, updates and support are included for the version on offer or the contract you choose.
No. Unitree documents a G1 SDK and distinguishes between G1 and G1-EDU configurations. Before integrating the system yourself, get confirmation of which interfaces are included with the specific version on offer and the associated contract.