The growing need for automation and human-robot interaction in the workplace has led to the rise of cognitive humanoid robots, now being introduced in various industrial sectors.
Cognitive humanoid robots are a response to the transformation of the industrial world, which is increasingly reliant on smart technologies to foster collaboration between humans and machines.
Since the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), marked by strong human-robot collaboration, the next step is Industry 5.0, which is more human-centred and promotes stronger interaction and co-working between people and machines.
A key driver of the growing use of robotic solutions is the global labour shortage. In the European Union alone, the working-age population has decreased from 269 million in 2012 to 264 million in 2021. By 2022, 193.5 million people aged between 20 and 64 were employed across the EU, but the working-age population is projected to shrink by another 35 million by 2050 [source: Business Europe].
Labour shortages increase the workload on existing employees, leading to higher stress levels. The British Psychological Society even refers to work-related stress as a “modern epidemic” due to the rise in burnout cases. Besides addressing labour shortages, there is a strong need to increase automation: according to McKinsey, 60% of tasks could already be automated, transforming the workplace significantly for all employees.
TAKEAWAYS
Cognitive and humanoid robots: a growing technological union
In the United States, manufacturing companies have significantly increased their investment in automation. Total industrial robot installations rose by 12%, reaching 44,303 units in 2023. The automotive industrywas the first to adopt this technology, followed by the electrical and electronics sectors [source: IFR – International Federation of Robotics].
In February 2024, IFR noted that the adoption of humanoid robots in the industrial sector and beyond would be one of the top five trends for the year. Other trends included the combined use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, cobots in new applications, mobile manipulators, and digital twins. The synergy between humanoids and cognitive robotics is a natural outcome of the ongoing development of intelligent robots.
Humanoid robots, as IFR predicted, will be one of the dominant trends. As evidence of this, IFR highlights China, where the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has set detailed targets to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025. The plan anticipates that humanoids will become a disruptive technology, much like computers and smartphones, revolutionising both the production of goods and the way people live.
According to Morgan Stanley’s Humanoid Robot Market Outlook 2024, the number of humanoid robots in the United States could reach 63 million units by 2050, with a $3 trillion impact on wages. The report also underscores the labour shortages faced by the U.S., driven by long-term demographic changes «that could negatively affect economic growth for years to come»,
Meanwhile, advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI «will lead to transformative innovations across sectors from healthcare to manufacturing».
These emerging technological trends are expected to drive the development of humanoid robots-anthropomorphic machines whose “generative brains” will heavily rely on AI systems. The evolution towards cognitive humanoid robots is a natural and inevitable step forward.
Cognitive robotics: what it is, its goals, and market interest
Cognitive humanoid robots can be seen as a successful fusion of humanoid robotics and cognitive robotics solutions.
Cognitive robotics sits at the intersection of robotics and cognitive sciences, which study the mind and its processes, such as perception, attention, planning, memory, learning, and reasoning.
According to Angelo Cangelosi (Professor of Machine Learning and Robotics at the University of Manchester and co-director of the Manchester Centre for Robotics and AI) and Minoru Asada (Professor of Adaptive Machine Systems at Osaka University), as discussed in their book Cognitive Robotics, this field combines insights and methods from artificial intelligence (AI), cognitive science, and biology with robotics.
It is a novel approach to building intelligent robots, drawing inspiration from how natural cognitive systems – found in humans, animals, and biological systems – develop intelligence. The approach leverages the intricate interactions between the body, brain, physical environment, and social surroundings.
The aim of cognitive robotics is to create robots that can perceive, reason, and act in ways that closely mimic human and animal intelligence. Unlike conventional robots programmed for repetitive tasks, cognitive robots have perception, reasoning, and decision-making abilities similar to human cognition. By using sensor technologies, machine learning algorithms, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), these robots interpret environmental data, adapt to dynamic surroundings, and perform complex tasks with precision and efficiency.
Interest in cognitive robotics is significant, with market forecasts suggesting its value will double in a few years, from approximately $6 billion in 2024 to $12.6 billion by 2030 [source: Market Research Future]. This growth is driven by several technological factors: the expanding role of AI, the increased learning capabilities of machines, and advances in sensor technology that now enable robots to move and interact far more effectively than just a few years ago.
Application sectors for cognitive humanoid robots
In addition to their advanced capabilities, cognitive humanoid robots are well-suited for performing repetitive and stressful tasks, and can operate in hazardous environments, thus sparing humans from working in high-risk settings.
The industrial sector has shown growing interest in adopting humanoid robots, as evidenced by recent examples. In the automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz signed an agreement with Texas-based Apptronik to use its humanoid robot, Apollo, in production plants. The German automaker is considering deploying Apollo in logistics to transport components to production lines for workers to assemble, while also inspecting parts. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz is exploring its use in the production process itself.
Similarly, BMW Group, through BMW Manufacturing, has partnered with California-based Figure, a developer of autonomous cognitive humanoid robots. Specifically, BMW is leveraging OpenAI technology to develop voice reasoning capabilities for its humanoid robot, Figure 02, enabling it to learn and acquire new skills over time.
Another U.S. company, Agility Robotics, is also pioneering in the field, offering a commercial humanoid robot model designed primarily for production, warehousing, and logistics.
Further evidence of the growing interest in humanoid robots comes from Nvidia, which aims to become a leading supplier of advanced components for humanoid robots. In early 2024, Nvidia announced the launch of a multi-purpose base model for humanoid robots, designed to streamline their construction. NEURA Robotics, a German company specialising in humanoid and cognitive robotics, has partnered with Nvidia to integrate its solutions. NEURA’s humanoid robot, 4NE-1, is equipped with proprietary cognitive technology, enabling it to understand human behaviour and interact with people.
Italy leading the way: the world’s first certified cognitive humanoid robot born in Lombardy
Italy is also at the forefront of cognitive humanoid robot development. One of the earliest models, iCub, was designed and built by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) and was officially unveiled in 2009. iCub was created to help develop and test embodied artificial intelligence algorithms.
Italy continues to lead the field with another groundbreaking robot, Robee, the first – and so far, the only – certified cognitive humanoid robot in the world. Robee is designed for industrial use, working alongside humans in factories, particularly in dangerous tasks, making it a model product for Industry 5.0.
Oversonic Robotics, a startup founded in 2020 in Lombardy, developed Robee. As co-founder and CEO Paolo Denti explains, proprietary neural networks were created for the robot’s learning processes and industrial tasks, allowing it to connect to the cloud to retrieve information and carry out its missions, while also interacting cognitively with humans. Once integrated into a company, Robee automatically connects with the company’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software and the MES (Manufacturing Execution System).
Robee is already on the market: «We have already delivered nine robots, sold another 20, and have about 30 more orders in the pipeline, with 140 applications developed» said Denti during a recent press presentation.
The importance of certification is highlighted by the CEO: «It enables Robee to be fully operational. The decision to use wheels rather than a bipedal design is driven by regulatory requirements, as there are no CE certification standards for walking bipeds. Moreover, wheels give Robee greater autonomy—it can operate for eight consecutive hours. Walking robots, by contrast, can only last up to 90 minutes».
Robee’s industrial model stands at 175 cm in height and weighs approximately 80 kg. By the end of 2024, a version designed for the healthcare sector is expected to be unveiled.
What does the future hold for cognitive humanoid robotics? «By 2040, we envision machines that will fully embrace social robotics» predicts Denti, assuming that robots will be designed to assist humans by taking on burdensome, repetitive, or dangerous tasks.
Glimpses of Futures
The rise of cognitive humanoid robots is set to bring about substantial changes in the industrial world, healthcare, and social interaction, where they will take on various tasks to ease human workloads and help address labour shortages. However, their deployment will need to be subject to strict regulations to prevent potential risks to individual and environmental safety.
Using the STEPS framework, let’s explore potential future scenarios and analyse the impacts that the evolution of cognitive humanoid robots might have.
S – SOCIAL: the adoption of cognitive humanoid robots is not intended to replace humans but to assist them by performing repetitive or stress-inducing tasks, and by operating in dangerous environments. These robots can be used to assemble parts on production lines or handle heavy objects, without tiring or making errors due to fatigue, thereby safeguarding human workers and reducing exposure to hazards. It’s important to note that over one billion workers worldwide are exposed to harmful substances annually, with one million losing their lives each year due to exposure to hazardous chemicals [source: International Labour Organization]. As Adam Jonas, head of Global Autos and Shared Mobility research at Morgan Stanley, stated in the previously mentioned report, «The commercialisation of humanoid robots will face many challenges, particularly regarding social and political acceptance, given their significant potential to disrupt a large portion of the global workforce». He also highlighted that up to 70% of jobs in construction and 67% in agriculture, fishing, and forestry could be affected. «While they may not be the best solution, they are an increasingly necessary one for a world facing immense longevity challenges». In the future, cognitive humanoid robots may become essential tools in sectors struggling with hazardous working conditions and labour shortages, helping to create safer environments and more sustainable work practices. However, balancing their integration with societal and workforce needs will remain a key challenge.
T – TECHNOLOGICAL: cognitive robotics is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to bridge the gap between human cognition and robotic intelligence. The goal of creating cognitive robots is to enable them to perceive, reason, and act in ways that closely mimic human and animal intelligence. This requires ongoing research and a high degree of technological innovation. For cognitive humanoid robots, this is even more crucial, as they will need to engage with humans more sensitively, whether assisting in workplaces or caring for vulnerable individuals in healthcare settings. These robots must be equipped with advanced AI techniques to navigate diverse environments, recognise their surroundings, and interact with people effectively. The adoption of cognitive humanoid robots necessitates a technological overhaul in companies, adapting infrastructure to Industry 4.0 and 5.0 standards. Their deployment will also be facilitated by the adoption of 5G wireless communication standards, and even more so with the advent of 6G.
E – ECONOMIC: the economic impact of humanoid robots has been projected by Morgan Stanley. By 2040, the United States could have 8 million operational humanoid robots, with a potential wage impact of $357 billion. By 2050, analysts predict that the number of humanoid robots could rise to 63 million, potentially affecting 75% of jobs, 40% of employees, and a total wage impact equivalent to $3 trillion. Additionally, the deployment of humanoids could lead to cost savings estimated between $500,000 and $1 million per human worker over a 20-year period.
P – POLITICAL: cognitive humanoid robotics combines robotics and artificial intelligence, which necessitates strong regulatory frameworks. The most authoritative regulation today is the AI Act, the first legal framework on AI in the world. Its purpose is to ensure that AI systems used in the EU are safe, transparent, ethical, impartial, and under human control, with systems categorised by risk level. The AI Act and new EU regulations require companies to evaluate and adjust their systems to ensure safe operations. This will provide better protections for people who interact with cognitive robots, while also driving further research and development towards even more advanced and secure solutions.
S – SUSTAINABILITY: robots can work longer hours without fatigue, improving overall productivity, especially in labour-intensive sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. This can have a significant impact on economic sustainability for companies that adopt them. From a social sustainability perspective, as many countries face aging populations, humanoid robots can help care for the elderly, assist with daily activities, and provide companionship. This could ease the burden on caregivers and healthcare systems. In 2023, a survey in the U.S. revealed that over two-thirds of nurses reported experiencing burnout symptoms almost every day [source: Statista]. Humanoid robots could alleviate some of this pressure, creating more sustainable healthcare practices.
