Practical Applications of Human-Like Robots in the Workplace

Have you ever wondered who cleans the office bathrooms after a long day? It's a tough job that often goes unnoticed and isn't always the most pleasant task. Well, technology is stepping in to make a difference. An American company called Somatic has introduced robots that are already at work cleaning office bathrooms. Yes, you read that right - robots are now handling one of the least glamorous yet essential cleaning tasks in the workplace. 𝐒𝐨, 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤? - Autonomous Operation: These robots navigate the bathroom space on their own, using advanced sensors to move around stalls, sinks, and other obstacles without human guidance. - Thorough Cleaning: Equipped with cleaning tools and disinfectants, they can scrub toilets, mop floors, and sanitize surfaces, ensuring a consistent level of cleanliness every time. - Safety Measures: They are designed to operate when the bathroom is unoccupied to ensure privacy and safety for everyone. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭? - Addressing Labor Shortages: Cleaning jobs, especially in restrooms, can be hard to fill. Robots can take over repetitive and undesirable tasks, allowing human workers to focus on other responsibilities. - Consistency and Efficiency: Robots perform tasks the same way each time, which means the cleanliness standards are consistently met or even exceeded. - Health and Hygiene: Automating bathroom cleaning reduces human exposure to germs and hazardous cleaning chemicals, promoting a healthier work environment. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 - Sensors: The robots use Lidar and other sensing technologies to map out the bathroom and detect obstacles. - Programmable Schedules: They can be set to clean at specific times, such as overnight, to minimize disruption. - Machine Learning: Over time, they learn the layout and can optimize their cleaning routes for better efficiency. Are you comfortable with robots performing cleaning tasks in spaces like bathrooms? Where else do you think robots like these could make a positive impact? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

Hexagon and NVIDIA just cut humanoid robot training time from 6 months to 3 weeks. Their new AEON robot learns industrial tasks in simulation before hitting the factory floor—scanning parts, inspecting assemblies, and capturing 3D data for digital twins. With 50 million skilled positions unfilled globally, this isn't just a tech demo. It's addressing real operational gaps. What makes this different: - Simulation-first training drastically reduces deployment time - Built for actual industrial work, not demonstrations - Integrated with existing digital workflows The practical question for manufacturers: We're past debating whether robots can handle complex manual tasks. The question is where they'll create value fastest. Is it quality control, logistics, or precision inspection? The labor shortage isn't waiting for perfect technology. Sometimes starting with "capable enough" beats waiting for "flawless." Where do you see the clearest ROI for humanoid robotics? #Manufacturing #Robotics #Automation #IndustrialTech

Physical AI is the next step forward for manufacturing performance. At WNE, I met "Hoxo", the humanoid robot developed by Capgemini and Orano, shows what the future could look like. Deployed at the Orano Melox École des Métiers in the Gard region of France, Hoxo is the first intelligent humanoid robot in the nuclear sector, able to replicate human movements and work safely alongside teams. With real-time perception, autonomous navigation, execution of technical gestures, and sophisticated interaction, stepping forward will be the least of its capabilities. This project, led by our AI Robotics & Experiences Lab with the expertise of Orano's on-site teams, embodies the convergence of robotics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and digital twins to offer a scalable robotic platform to enhance industrial performance and potentially support operators through robotic assistance. Watch the full video below to discover why this is a major step forward for a strategic industry that has long been a pioneer in innovation. Pascal Brier

Thrilled to share my latest article dedicated to the economic and social impact of Humanoid Robotics. The Humanoid Robotics industry is not another deep tech trend; it is a dual strategic imperative—societal and economic. Global forecasts from the United Nations, OECD, International Monetary Fund, The World Bank, and World Economic Forum converge on the same picture: populations keep growing, while aging accelerates, dependency ratios rise, and working-age cohorts shrink. More people will need care, and fewer people will be available to provide it. Labor shortages already stretch #healthcare, eldercare, #logistics, #manufacturing, #construction, #agriculture, #defense #publicservices. Humanoid robots—built to navigate human spaces, use existing tools, and collaborate safely—can directly expand capacity where it's most constrained, from bedside assistance and rehabilitation to warehouse picking, inspection, and disaster response. The economic case is equally urgent. Advanced economies face stubborn productivity gaps, wage-driven cost pressures, and fragile supply chains. Humanoid systems raise throughput, standardize quality, reduce injury costs, and sustain 24/7 operations without rebuilding facilities—accelerating payback and lowering total cost of ownership. As onshoring and friend-shoring gain momentum, humanoids help reconcile higher local wages with competitive unit economics. Service models (Robotics-as-a-Service), outcome-based contracts, and predictive maintenance further de-risk adoption and align costs with value creation. Crucially, these robots could augment human workers rather than merely replace them—absorbing repetitive, high-hazard tasks while enabling people to focus on complex judgment, empathy, and supervision. That shift alleviates burnout, widens participation for older and differently abled workers, and fortifies national resilience. For countries and enterprises alike, investing in humanoid robotics is now core to competitiveness, social care capacity, and inclusive growth—not gadgetry. Delay amplifies fiscal burdens and widens inequality; adoption creates a pragmatic bridge between demographic reality and sustainable prosperity. #society #economy #trade #investments #strategy #ecosystem #demographics #labor #employment #longevity #workforce #future

Furhat Robotics' founder and CEO Samer Al Moubayed says #manufacturing stands out as a prime candidate for #humanoid #robots. His reasons for this include the fact that factory floors are typically more structured environments (unlike other human-inhabited spaces), and the tasks performed in these settings are often isolated, making it easier to train robots to perform specific tasks in a controlled, predictable environment. Samer adds that a number of trials now being conducted by #automotive manufacturers supports the idea that the #factory floor will be the first home for humanoid robotics. He points to announcements from BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz AG and Tesla related to testing of humanoid robots in their #factories. However, Samer notes a key capability that remains underdeveloped with humanoid robots is human interactivity. This is a particular issue with respect to these robots' ability to use a fluent conversational language when interacting with people, he says. While Furhat Robotics, as a provider of interactive humanoid robot technology, clearly has a stake in this technology area, the points made by Samer are worthy of consideration. Learn more about this at: https://lnkd.in/eYvcFCd7

Figure AI, with the support of Microsoft and OpenAI, is integrating advanced humanoid robots into BMW’s production processes, beginning in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This collaboration signifies a paradigm shift towards human-like automation in manufacturing, leveraging AI to enhance precision and efficiency. Technically, these robots stand out for their use of machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing, enabling them to perform complex tasks and interact with human workers in dynamic production environments. Figure's humanoid robots enable the automation of difficult, unsafe, or tedious tasks throughout the manufacturing process, which in turn allows employees to focus on skills and processes that cannot be automated, Brett Adcock, Founder and CEO of Figure, emphasized the untapped potential of general-purpose robotics in revolutionizing productivity, reducing operational costs, and fostering a safer, more consistent working environment. Do you believe our society is ready for humanoid robots? #trends #ai #manufacturing