Physical AI &

Humanoid Robotics

The Next Generation of Automation 

Contact person

Daniel Schmitt-Hoffner

Research Coordinator, ARENA2036 e.V.

Send e-mail

Flexible Automation Through Physical AI and Humanoid Robotics

The project “Physical AI & Humanoid Robotics – Next Generation of Automation” investigates how humanoid robots can be flexibly and effectively integrated into production and logistics processes. The goal is to develop intelligent, safe, and adaptable automation solutions that seamlessly connect people, machines, and the environment. To this end, real-world application processes are analyzed and technically implemented and tested in demonstrators within ARENA2036.

The Next Generation of Automation

In the project “Physical AI & Humanoid Robotics – The Next Generation of Automation,” partners from industry and academia are pooling their expertise to develop new technologies and concepts for the industrial application of humanoid robotics. The focus is on flexible and adaptive robotic solutions that efficiently support production and logistics processes and can be safely integrated into existing work environments.

The focus is on applications in the fields of logistics, machine tending, and inspection. In the future, these systems are expected to be capable of performing autonomous tasks as well as interacting safely with people in shared work environments. The work is organized into thematic workstreams in which industry and research partners collaborate on defined key areas. This allows core technologies and use cases to be structured and linked together. Cross-cutting themes ensure the alignment of shared interests and enable a continuous transfer of knowledge and technology between the workstreams.

Perception, localization, and navigation (SLAM), along with semantic understanding, grasping technologies, and multi-robot coordination, form the foundation for robust, flexible, and scalable robotic solutions in industrial applications.

Agile ONE @ ARENA2036

From logistics to human-robot interaction

Humanoid robots are considered one of the most exciting technologies for the industry of tomorrow. But how can they actually support production processes? The project “Physical AI & Humanoid Robotics – The Next Generation of Automation” is dedicated to addressing precisely this question.

The focus is on real-world industrial applications: from logistics and production to the inspection of complex systems. In the future, humanoid robot systems are expected to autonomously recognize load carriers, grasp them securely, and transport them flexibly through production and warehouse environments. At the same time, intelligent concepts are being developed that enable precise machine loading and the handling of a wide variety of components—even when components are provided in a disorderly manner or their positions vary. Furthermore, the project is researching how robots can autonomously inspect industrial environments, record quality characteristics, and analyze relevant environmental data. A central component of this is safety: from reliable human detection and collision avoidance to information security, comprehensive safety concepts are being developed that enable the practical use of humanoid robotics.

Special attention is also being paid to human-robot interaction. By combining state-of-the-art sensor technology—including cameras, LiDAR, and radar systems—intelligent perception systems are being developed that can accurately map their surroundings. Complemented by intuitive control concepts such as voice control or teleoperation, humanoid robots can be safely operated even by users without specialized robotics expertise.

All of the technologies, methods, and demonstrators developed are tested under realistic conditions at ARENA2036. This allows researchers to examine how the solutions can be adapted to different robot models and industrial applications, and to identify the technological challenges that still need to be overcome for widespread deployment. With this approach, the project makes an important contribution to the development of humanoid robotics as a key technology for a flexible, safe, and human-centered industry—and is thus actively shaping the next generation of automation.

Thematic focus

Logistics & Material Handling

Logistics processes are undergoing a fundamental transformation as workflows are no longer bound by fixed routes or rigid structures. In warehouse and production environments, autonomous, humanoid systems will soon take over the transport of materials and navigate dynamic work environments on their own. Physical AI plays a central role here: it enables the systems to navigate complex environments flexibly, transport goods precisely, and support employees in logistics processes. With the help of AI and modern sensor technology, they map their surroundings in real time, detect obstacles early on, and work safely in direct interaction with people. In material handling, this creates significant potential for reducing the burden of physically demanding tasks. At the same time, processes become more flexible, as systems can adapt to changing requirements in real time. In the long term, material flows can be managed more efficiently, logistics processes can be made more stable, and companies can be better prepared for increasing demands in intralogistics.

Contact:
Dr. Christian Peschke

Stoba Holding, LLC

christian.peschke@stoba.de

Machine Loading & Handling

In modern industry, humanoid robotics offers great potential for machine loading and component handling. In the future, these systems will be able to precisely grasp workpieces, reliably feed materials, and flexibly operate machines even when requirements change. Thanks to their human-like mobility, these systems can be easily integrated into existing production environments. Intelligent sensor technology and AI-supported controls enable safe collaboration with employees directly on the production line. The focus is particularly on flexible handling processes in which components positioned in different ways or provided in a disorderly manner must be processed. This could make production processes more robust, reduce the need for manual intervention, and relieve employees of ergonomically stressful tasks. In the long term, this offers the potential to make processes more efficient and support companies in meeting the increasing demands of modern manufacturing environments.

Contact:
Torsten Grüninger

Daimler Truck AG

torsten.grueninger@daimlertruck.com

Inspection

In industry, inspection and quality control are increasingly shifting from one-off checks to continuously monitored processes. The goal is to keep a constant eye on equipment, production areas, and building and utility infrastructure, and to detect deviations early on. Modern sensor technology, camera technology, and AI-supported analysis enable real-time analysis. Anomalies are not only detected but also immediately assessed and translated into actionable information for operations. Humanoid systems play an active role in day-to-day operations: They move through production areas and technical control centers, continuously inspecting equipment, infrastructure, and technical utility systems. This results in comprehensive monitoring of production-related and building-related systems. Deviations from the target state are immediately detected, and relevant information is transmitted directly to the service team. Thanks to their flexible mobility, these systems also offer potential for deployment in hard-to-reach or potentially hazardous areas. This allows service technicians to be relieved of specific tasks, reduces time-consuming and physically demanding routine tasks, and makes inspection and maintenance processes more efficient.

Contact person:
Clarissa Hack

SPIE Germany, Switzerland, Austria

clarissa.hack@spie.com

Security Concepts

Modern safety concepts lay the groundwork for deploying humanoid robots directly alongside humans, without the need for physical separation through safety zones. Intelligent sensor technology, camera-based environmental recognition, and advanced control systems continuously monitor movements and processes, forming the basis for coordinated work in shared spaces. The systems detect people and obstacles in real time, dynamically adjust their movements, and respond to unpredictable situations. For flexible robotic tasks in logistics, machine tending, and inspection, safe and unimpeded movement within the work environment is a key prerequisite for productive deployment in the immediate vicinity of humans and machines. To this end, risks associated with various applications are systematically assessed, and technical safety concepts for safe implementation are investigated. This is intended to enable safe and efficient collaboration between humans and robots in real-world production and work environments in the long term.

Contact:
Dr. Gor Hakobyan

Waveye

gor@waveye.com

Design and Development of New Robots

The development of future humanoid robot systems requires new approaches to design, construction, and system architecture. To perform flexible robotic tasks in logistics, machine tending, and inspection, the systems used must be able to reliably meet a wide variety of requirements and applications. In this context, factors such as payload capacity, mobility, downtime, and robust charging technology play a central role. The systems are designed to safely handle workpieces, tools, and materials, as well as to be flexibly deployed across varying processes. In addition to mechanical components, sensor technology, actuators, and control systems are developed holistically and coordinated with one another. Modular and scalable concepts are of particular importance, as they enable diverse application scenarios and facilitate the integration of new technologies. The developed systems are tested, compared, and further refined within the ARENA2036 innovation environment.

Contact:
Dr. Manuel Zürn

Agile Robots SE

manuel.zuern@agile-robots.com

UX, Interfaces, Human-Computer Interaction

Interaction between humans and humanoid robots is a key component of future industrial applications. To this end, intuitive control and interaction concepts are being developed to enable simple, safe, and efficient collaboration. In addition to traditional control methods, voice control, gesture recognition, and teleoperation are becoming increasingly important and are creating new possibilities for the flexible control of humanoid systems. At the same time, there is a growing focus on the centralized coordination and monitoring of different robotic systems via standardized interfaces. This is intended to make complex robotic systems easier to operate and allow them to be efficiently integrated into existing processes. The combination of modern sensor technology, intelligent software, and user-centered design is giving rise to new approaches for practical, scalable, and cross-vendor human-robot interaction.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ansgar Gerlicher

Media University

gerlicher@hdm-stuttgart.de