What are the greatest challenges for offering components for humanoid robotics?

From my viewpoint at Schaeffler as a component and joint actuator supplier, there are two key challenges.

First, the industry is rushing to find the right actuator architectures and performance for each joint. This is resulting in very different joint designs and architectures (rotary vs. linear actuators and even more diverging solutions within the rotary actuator family and the linear actuator family). The only apparent consensus now is strainwave gear-based actuators which virtually every humanoid OEM is using in at least some joints. There’s a large focus on performance, and if the “ChatGPT moment for general robotics is truly around the corner” and that humanoids will truly reach the volume projections that we hear about, then we must start thinking about scaling these components for high volume production. Schaeffler’s background in high volume production for the automotive industry in combination with our understanding of these new joint actuator requirements will give us a good seat at the table to address these challenges.

Second, we must understand as an industry the unique requirements of humanoid robots and how they differ from traditional robots. Right sizing the requirements will enable us to explore high volume solutions that will support the bullish outlook on the market.