Ensuring humanoid robots can operate safely around people is the biggest challenge facing the industry that develops them, according to Agility Robotics. Peggy Johnson, CEO of the U.S.-based humanoid robot unicorn, told Nikkei Asia that access to massive real-time data analysis is needed to train robots and make sure they can work safely in unconfined environments. “Right now, all humanoids have to work within a work cell … to keep people away,” Johnson said. “But the real market [opportunity] is when you can come outside to work. … I would say the biggest bottleneck is safety; safety around humans.” Agility’s Digit humanoid robot was first deployed commercially in 2014 at GXO Logistics in Atlanta, Georgia, to help handle logistics operations. Germany-based automotive and industrial component maker Schaeffler has a partnership with Agility to use humanoid robots across its plants. The current generation of Digit stands 1.75 meters tall, weighs 73 kilograms and can lift around 16 kg, according to Johnson. She added that the next generation could handle up to 25 kg and feature a significantly longer battery life. The U.S. market could be Agility’s biggest growth driver initially, but the company is engaging with potential customers overseas in Europe and Asia, according to Johnson. “We had conversations with companies in Europe … and we’ve talked to many companies in Japan and [South] Korea,” she said.

Full story : Safety still the main hurdle for humanoid robot industry, says Agility CEO.