Potential use cases for humanoid robots: Disaster response, caregiving and beyond - Robotics & Automation News
More recently, BMW began testing another humanoid robot called Aeon, developed by the robotics division of Hexagon, at its Leipzig plant in Germany.
Key takeaways
The most recent headlines show humanoid robots moving from laboratory prototypes to commercial deployments across several sectors. On March 18, 2026, Agibot demonstrated large‑scale reliability by staging a fully robot‑led live show, highlighting coordinated performance of dozens of units and confirming that more than 5,000 humanoids had been delivered worldwide by the end of 2025, signaling a shift toward repeatable, scalable supply. At the same time, IntBot announced that its general social‑intelligence engine now powers the Nilo concierge robot, which is operating 24 hours a day in three U.S. hotel chains and can handle multilingual guest interactions, underscoring a focus on hardware‑agnostic, socially aware services. In the consumer market, the San‑Francisco‑based startup Sunday secured a $165 million Series B round that values the company at $1.15 billion as it prepares to launch the household robot Memo for chores such as laundry and table clearing. Meanwhile, automakers continue to test humanoids in factories: BMW is trialling the Hexagon‑developed Aeon robot at its Leipzig plant, and Mercedes‑Benz is investing in Apptronik’s Apollo platform for parts‑moving and inspection tasks. Academic analysis published on March 13 notes that despite advances in vision‑language‑action models and compliant actuation, humanoids still struggle with fine‑motor manipulation of small objects, indicating that technical challenges remain even as commercial use expands.
More recently, BMW began testing another humanoid robot called Aeon, developed by the robotics division of Hexagon, at its Leipzig plant in Germany. The robot is designed to support workers by performing repetitive tasks and moving components around the factory floor.
Other automakers are exploring similar approaches. Mercedes‑Benz has invested in Apptronik and is testing humanoid robots in production environments for tasks such as moving parts and performing inspections.
In these settings, humanoids are not replacing traditional industrial robots. Instead, they are being evaluated as flexible assistants capable of performing tasks that are difficult to automate with fixed machinery.
Disaster response: The original vision ### Manufacturing: the first real-world deployments
Manufacturing plants are emerging as another early test environment for humanoid robots.
Unlike warehouses, factories are structured environments with predictable workflows and strict safety systems – conditions that make them easier for robots to navigate.
Automakers have begun exploring humanoid robots as a supplement to existing automation.
For example, BMW has launched pilot projects involving humanoid robots in its factories. At the company’s Spartanburg plant in the United States, robots from Figure AI were tested on assembly tasks and operated on daily shifts during trials. Several companies are targeting this sector:
Agility Robotics is developing its Digit humanoid robot for logistics operations, focusing on tasks such as tote handling and material movement. Figure AI has been testing humanoid robots in industrial environments including warehouse-style operations. Apptronik has positioned its Apollo robot for logistics and manufacturing tasks.
However, warehouses are already heavily automated using other technologies – including autonomous mobile robots, robotic arms, and conveyor systems.
For humanoids to succeed in logistics, they must demonstrate that they can perform tasks more flexibly or more economically than existing automation.
Manufacturing: the first real-world deployments
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