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Freedom251 › Blog › Factory Automation

What Should Manufacturers Ask Before Buying a Humanoid Robot?

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

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Ask about the job, not the humanoid appearance. Before signing a purchase, lease or Robots-as-a-Service agreement, define one production task, require measured results under your operating conditions, verify safety for the complete application, check runtime and facility changes, and price the full lifecycle. A site-specific pilot with written acceptance criteria is the most useful proof. Compare the humanoid with non-humanoid automation that could perform the same work.

Define the production job before evaluating robots

A general demonstration cannot establish that a system will work on your line. Write a task specification that every supplier must use. It should describe the parts or totes, presentation method, pick and place points, handoffs, travel route, target cycle time, shifts, breaks, expected variation and the people working nearby.

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Build a task card

  • Workpiece: dimensions, mass, center of gravity, surface, fragility, tolerances and allowed contact points.
  • Sequence: each grasp, manipulation, walk, placement, scan, inspection and handoff.
  • Performance: target cycle time, first-pass success rate, acceptable rework, recovery time and maximum missed cycles.
  • Environment: floor surfaces, slopes, lighting, noise, temperature, dust, reflective materials, aisle width and traffic.
  • People: operators, maintenance staff, visitors, crossing points, shared workstations and foreseeable behavior.
  • Schedule: shift length, breaks, charging windows, planned changeovers and demand peaks.
  • Exceptions: dropped parts, blocked routes, full bins, damaged packaging, mis-picks, sensor occlusion and communication loss.

Give the same task card to every candidate. Ask for evidence on that workflow rather than a promise that the platform is general purpose. Fraunhofer IPA has argued that industrial humanoids need application-relevant criteria and has developed a modular benchmark for that reason.

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Ask what the robot will not do

Request a written list of exclusions: payloads outside the tested range, surfaces it cannot walk on, objects it cannot grip, lighting conditions that reduce perception, temperatures or contamination it cannot tolerate, and situations requiring human intervention. A credible proposal identifies boundaries instead of treating every exception as a future software update.

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Require measured performance, not a staged demonstration

For the defined task, ask for raw measurements, test conditions, sample size and failure definitions. “Successful” should mean the intended result was achieved without an operator correction, hidden reset or manual placement.

Performance evidence to request

  • Task success, failure and recovery rates over a representative run.
  • Cycle-time distribution, not only the fastest cycle, including start-up, pauses, charging and fault recovery.
  • Payload and grip-force data for your parts, including orientation changes and slippery or damaged items.
  • Walking speed, stopping distance, turning radius, navigation accuracy and performance on each floor surface.
  • Manipulation precision, repeatability, reach limits and tolerance to part-position variation.
  • Perception performance when labels, barcodes, lighting or backgrounds differ from the demonstration.
  • Behavior after a dropped object, blocked aisle, failed grasp, unexpected human movement or temporary network interruption.
  • Conditions of measurement: firmware, hardware configuration, software version, battery state, payload, environment and operator involvement.

Fraunhofer IPA’s benchmark measures sensors, AI models, grippers, walking speed, grip forces, load handling, navigation, precision and reaction speed. Use those categories as a checklist even if you do not commission the benchmark itself.

Use a common scorecard

Decision area Evidence to record for every candidate Acceptance example
Task output Success rate, failure modes, cycle-time distribution and recovery time At least the agreed first-pass rate for a full representative shift
Payload and dexterity Measured load, grip force, reach, precision and part-variation tolerance Handles the heaviest and most difficult approved part without assistance
Mobility Speed, route completion, stopping, turning and floor-surface results Completes the specified route without entering restricted zones
Human interaction Detection, stopping, restart and recovery when people approach Passes the site’s defined approach and handoff tests
Availability Runtime, charging, planned maintenance and unplanned downtime Meets production availability after charging and service windows are included
Implementation Station changes, network, interfaces, training and commissioning effort All required changes are costed, scheduled and accepted by site owners

Establish safety for the robot and the complete application

Safety is not proved by a robot-level certificate alone. The integrated cell, tools, fixtures, software, traffic pattern and work instructions create the actual hazards. Ask the supplier to separate evidence for the robot as a machine from evidence for your application.

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Know what the current standards cover

ISO 10218-1:2025 addresses safety requirements for industrial robots as machines before integration. ISO 10218-2:2025 addresses industrial robot applications and robot cells. Their scope and exclusions matter: hygienic requirements, certain severe or hazardous environments, dangerous-material handling and integration with mobile platforms may require additional assessment.

TÜV SÜD states that no fully harmonised standard currently covers humanoid robots as complete systems. Depending on the design, intended use and market, an assessment may draw on ISO 12100, ISO 13849, IEC 62061, IEC 61508, ISO 10218-1 and -2, IEC 62443, EN 50742 and other requirements. Treat these references as the start of a compliance plan, not a universal legal checklist. Have qualified safety and compliance personnel confirm which obligations apply in your jurisdiction.

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Demand a safety evidence package

  1. Hazard analysis: identify crushing, trapping, impact, falling-load, sharp-edge, electrical, thermal, ergonomic and software-related hazards for every task and foreseeable misuse.
  2. Safety functions: document protective stops, speed and separation monitoring, safe torque or power removal, access control, emergency stops and restart logic.
  3. Validation: provide test procedures, measured results, assumptions and unresolved findings for each safety function.
  4. Application ownership: state who designs guarding, signs off the cell, validates the final installation and updates the risk assessment after changes.
  5. Operating controls: supply lockout, maintenance, recovery, training, inspection and incident-reporting procedures.

Ask specifically how the system behaves when a person enters its path, a fixture is struck, balance is lost, a sensor fails, control software stops responding or the network connection disappears. Request the safe state, stopping behavior, alarm, restart conditions and manual recovery method for each case.

Look for contact and balance data

Fraunhofer’s testing includes stability on different surfaces, collision force, obstacle detection and behavior during failures. One 2026 test of a Unitree G1 EDU-4 running firmware version 1.04 reported collision forces above 500 newtons and described them as above pain thresholds permitted by the applicable standard. That result belongs to that configuration and test; it is not a benchmark for every humanoid. Require collision measurements for your tooling, speed limits, payload and workspace.

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Check runtime, charging and real production availability

Battery claims often describe an idealized activity. Ask for separate runtime data while standing, walking, carrying and performing the complete task mix, then calculate usable production time after charging, battery changes, warm-up, breaks and fault recovery.

Measured figure What it represents How to use it
2 hours 49 minutes Maximum operating time while standing for the Unitree G1 EDU-4 in Fraunhofer IPA’s 2026 evaluation Do not treat it as walking or full-task runtime
1 hour 49 minutes Operating time in a standing-and-walking scenario for the same tested configuration Compare with your actual duty cycle and route

Ask for power draw, charge rate, charging-space requirements, battery-change procedure, battery life, replacement cost and the effect of aging. Require a shift-level availability model that shows when the robot is producing, waiting, charging, being serviced or recovering. If the supplier cannot provide those figures for your task, make runtime a pilot acceptance criterion rather than an assumption.

Audit facility and systems integration requirements

A humanoid may fit through a doorway yet still require substantial site work. Walk the proposed route with engineering, safety, IT and operations teams before approving a purchase.

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Physical conditions

  • Floor flatness, traction, thresholds, ramps, drains, grating and load ratings.
  • Aisle width, turning space, passing zones, door hardware, lifts and emergency egress.
  • Lighting, reflections, dust, temperature, humidity, noise and line-of-sight obstructions.
  • Workstation height, bin presentation, fixtures, guarding, safety zones and charging location.
  • Storage for spare parts, batteries and tools, plus safe space for maintenance and manual recovery.

Digital and automation interfaces

  • Network coverage, latency, segmentation, authentication and loss-of-connection behavior.
  • Interfaces to manufacturing execution, warehouse, quality, barcode, fleet and safety systems.
  • Time synchronization, event logging, permissions and retention of camera, map and production data.
  • Change-control procedures for robot software, station PLCs, work instructions and AI models.

ISO 10218-2:2025 is concerned with applications and robot cells, but its exclusions mean that specialized environments or hazards may need other assessments. Make the supplier identify every assumption about your building and process, then verify it on site.

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Ask hard cybersecurity and software-maintenance questions

A connected mobile manipulator can expose production networks, cameras, maps, credentials and operational data. Request evidence for the full software and support lifecycle.

  • How are users, service technicians, APIs and remote sessions authenticated and authorized?
  • Are communications encrypted in transit and is sensitive data encrypted at rest?
  • Where are video, maps, logs, model data and production records stored, and for how long?
  • How are vulnerabilities reported, triaged, patched and disclosed to customers?
  • Are updates tested against your task and safety functions before deployment?
  • Can an update be staged, approved, paused and rolled back without unsafe behavior?
  • What happens if cloud services, certificates, time synchronization or network access fail?
  • Can your team export logs and continue safely during a vendor outage?

Fraunhofer’s benchmark includes vulnerability management, secure lifecycle, network security and penetration resistance. Ask for comparable evidence and a named security contact, not only a general statement that the platform is secure.

Make support, repair and ownership explicit

Humanoid systems combine mechanics, batteries, sensors, actuators, networking and software. A production agreement should assign responsibility for each layer.

Put these commitments in writing

  • Commissioning scope, site acceptance, training and documentation.
  • Remote-support hours, escalation path, on-site response target and coverage across all shifts.
  • Preventive-maintenance schedule, inspection tasks, spare-parts stock and repair lead times.
  • Software-support period, update policy, cybersecurity fixes and compatibility with your interfaces.
  • Incident investigation, evidence preservation and responsibility for returning the system to service.
  • Warranty exclusions, battery coverage, consumables, replacement units and end-of-life process.
  • Data ownership, access when the contract ends, equipment return and safe deletion of credentials.

Public material reviewed for this market does not establish universal response times, warranty terms, repair guarantees or lifecycle commitments. Require the shortlisted supplier to state those terms in the proposal and contract, with remedies if they are missed.

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Compare the full commercial model and lifecycle cost

Compare purchase, lease and Robots-as-a-Service offers on the same operating assumptions. A low entry price can hide integration labor, software fees, downtime or mandatory services.

Cost category Questions to ask
Acquisition or subscription What is included, what is recurring, and what happens if volume or shifts change?
Integration Who pays for engineering, fixtures, safety validation, network work, interfaces and commissioning?
Operations Are software, cloud, fleet management, consumables, batteries and charging infrastructure included?
People and training What operator, technician, safety and IT time is required per shift and per changeover?
Downtime How are pilot disruption, planned maintenance, faults and vendor-caused outages valued?
Exit What are termination fees, data-export rights, equipment removal duties and transition assistance?

Agility Robotics announced a Robots-as-a-Service agreement with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada after a successful pilot, but the announcement did not disclose pricing or contract terms. Use it as an example of a commercial structure, not as a cost benchmark.

Design a site pilot that can earn a scale decision

A pilot should test production reality, not create a marketing video. Agree on the protocol before installation.

  1. Define the baseline: record current cycle time, labor content, quality, safety constraints, downtime and operating cost for the task.
  2. Freeze the task and conditions: specify parts, shifts, route, floor, lighting, staffing, network and exception cases.
  3. Set measurable gates: define minimum success rate, cycle-time range, availability, recovery time, safety results, cybersecurity controls and maximum manual intervention.
  4. Test normal and abnormal work: include full and empty bins, damaged parts, blocked paths, human crossings, dropped objects, sensor occlusion, power loss and network loss.
  5. Run representative shifts: include start-up, breaks, charging, changeovers, maintenance and operator handoffs.
  6. Capture independent records: log every attempt, failure, intervention, alarm, stop, charge and software change. Have site safety and operations personnel witness the tests.
  7. Review total cost: include engineering hours, temporary guarding, downtime, training, consumables and support, not just the vendor invoice.
  8. Apply the decision rule: scale only if every critical safety gate passes and the measured operational and financial thresholds are met. Otherwise, document the failed assumption and either redesign the task or stop.

Ask for customer references using comparable parts, routes and shift patterns. Obtain permission to verify reported results and ask what failed during deployment, how long recovery took and which costs were unexpected.

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Use independent testing where it adds confidence

Fraunhofer IPA describes a benchmark with six areas: basic capabilities, complex capabilities, cleanroom suitability, functional safety, cybersecurity and energy efficiency. Its measurements include particle emissions, outgassing and cleanability for cleanrooms, plus stability, collision forces, obstacle detection, failure behavior, battery performance and power consumption.

Such testing can expose differences hidden by demonstrations and give multiple bidders a common language. It does not prove that a robot fits your complete site or that a specific certification has been granted. Your application risk assessment, pilot and local compliance review remain necessary.

Compare humanoids with simpler alternatives

A humanoid form can be useful where existing human-oriented stations, stairs, doors or tool layouts make conventional automation difficult. It can also add walking, balance and whole-body safety problems. Include non-humanoid options that can perform the same task: fixed robots, mobile platforms, conveyors, lifts, dedicated grippers or a redesigned workstation.

Use identical acceptance criteria and cost assumptions for every option. NIST’s manufacturing robotics program identifies comparison needs around performance, collaboration, agility, autonomy, safety, ease of implementation, grasping, perception, mobility and human-robot interaction. A candidate that wins on one capability may lose on availability, integration effort or lifecycle cost.

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Interpret current deployment claims carefully

Public announcements can show that a deployment exists, but they are not a substitute for evidence on your task.

  • Agility Robotics reported more than 65,000 hours of operational time for Digit 4 in 2026. This is a vendor-reported figure, not an independently audited total.
  • The company reported more than $300 million in multi-year customer orders for Digit 5, subject to contractual milestones. That is an order figure, not revenue or unconditional demand.
  • It reported approximately 98% accuracy at a 100,000-tote cumulative milestone for Digit 4 at GXO’s Flowery Branch facility. The result is tied to that task and facility and is not a general accuracy guarantee.
  • On February 19, 2026, Agility announced a Digit Robots-as-a-Service agreement with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada after a pilot for manufacturing, supply-chain and logistics operations.
  • In a September 15, 2026 announcement, Agility said Digit 5 early access was expected in the first half of 2027 and general availability by the end of 2027. The company also said Digit 5 remained in development, that features could change and that some safety features were still in development.

Confirm current availability, configuration, firmware, safety status and delivery dates directly in the contract. Tie every claimed result to a task, site, date and configuration.

Red flags that should pause a purchase

  • A demonstration uses an easier payload, route or environment than the proposed job.
  • The supplier supplies an average cycle time but no distribution, failure rate or intervention count.
  • Runtime is quoted without duty cycle, charging, battery aging or walking conditions.
  • Safety documents cover the robot but not the integrated cell, fixtures, traffic and foreseeable misuse.
  • No party accepts responsibility for final risk assessment, validation or incident response.
  • Remote access, data retention, patching and rollback are described only in marketing language.
  • Support response, spare parts, repair lead time, warranty and end-of-contract rights are absent.
  • A pilot has no written acceptance criteria or allows the vendor to exclude failures from the result.
  • Commercial claims are presented as audited production performance when they are vendor-reported.

Bottom line: buy evidence before buying a humanoid

The right purchasing question is not “Which humanoid looks most capable?” It is “Which automation system can perform this defined job safely, repeatedly and economically under our conditions?” Require a shared task specification, measured performance, application-level safety validation, runtime and charging data, facility and cybersecurity plans, named support obligations, a transparent lifecycle cost and a witnessed pilot. Scale only when the evidence meets pre-agreed gates—and keep non-humanoid solutions in the comparison.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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Factory AutomationHumanoid Robotsindustrial roboticsmanufacturing automationRobot Safetyrobotics procurement

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