Humanoid Robots in Logistics: Efficiency or Gimmick?

Robotics, in its many guises, continues to be a vital component in transforming modern logistics and supply chain operations, with humanoid robots, warehouse robots, and logistics robots playing distinct roles in reshaping the industry. As businesses aim to balance efficiency, productivity, agility, and cost, robotics offers a sure-fire solution to the challenges of an ever-evolving landscape. With warehouse automation, robotic technologies, and cutting-edge technologies rapidly advancing, robotic systems are now integral to achieving faster deliveries and improved customer satisfaction.

As the UK and global markets juggle the increasing demands for enhanced efficiency in supply chain operations, the question arises: are humanoid robots really the next game-changer for logistics, or just a technological gimmick?

The Rise of the Humanoid

You may see them serving a cup of coffee or handing a shopping bag to a customer, but humanoid robots have come a long way in a relatively short time. In 1973, the WABOT-1 developed at Waseda University in Japan, was the first full-scale humanoid robot, capable of walking, using cameras for vision, and engaging in basic conversation.

Fast forward 50 years or so, and we are seeing a growing number of humanoids in logistics settings; notably with a large UK 3rd party fulfilment company having announced the industry’s first formal commercial deployment of humanoid robots. But just how effective will they be in mainstream logistics operations?

Exploring Humanoid, Warehouse, and Logistics Robots

Typically, robots used in a logistics setting can be categorised into three main types: humanoid robots, warehouse robots, and logistics robots. Each type of robot is designed to meet specific operational needs, showcasing unique attributes and capabilities, and the decision to select the most appropriate option is dependent on its precise usage.

Humanoid robots

Humanoid robots are designed to mimic human appearance and movements. They often feature arms, legs, and heads, which provide the necessary dexterity to perform tasks traditionally carried out by humans. These robots are equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and AI-driven decision-making systems, enabling them to interact with their environment and provide valuable judgments based on real-time activity and data. The humanoid form factor and human shape also support deployment in spaces designed for human labour.

Their capabilities can include speech and gesture-based communication to replicate human habits, complex motor skills for picking or placing items, autonomous navigation in dynamic environments, and human-like adaptability to operational changes. Some even incorporate facial recognition for interacting with humans by humans.

Humanoid robots have primarily been used in more customer-facing scenarios within logistics, such as guiding visitors in warehouses or providing real-time updates to customers. However, their role is evolving at pace to include tasks such as assisting with inventory levels, picking, sorting, and stacking goods for efficient order fulfilment and shipping.

Warehouse Robots

Warehouse robots are specialised machines designed to optimise storage, inventory, and order fulfilment processes. They are highly efficient in structured environments like warehouses and distribution centers, offering high-speed picking and packing, automated sorting systems, real-time inventory tracking, and integration with warehouse management systems. These warehouse robotics solutions significantly enhance warehouse productivity and accuracy in warehouse operations.

Warehouse robots can be fixed or autonomous. The most common include Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for activities that include order picking, replenishment, goods-to-person movements, as well as sorting and transporting goods to dispatch areas, ready for shipment. These robotic solutions handle a wide range of stock, heavy stock, and help monitor stock levels across various storage locations.

Logistics Robots

Logistics robots often overlap with the range of warehouse robots but focus more on end-to-end supply chain operations. So, whilst they are commonly used in warehouses and storage facilities, they can also be found in shipping hubs and delivery fleets. Logistics robots are designed to handle transportation and delivery tasks with precision, often using autonomous navigation. These autonomous robots offer the ability to load and unload goods efficiently and provide fleet management with optimised routing using AI-based analytics to reduce delivery times and improve customer satisfaction.

Why Use Humanoid Robots for Logistics Tasks?

Humanoid robots are gradually being introduced to warehouse logistics to perform key tasks that are repetitive, physically demanding, or require a high level of dexterity and flexibility that traditional robots struggle with. These advanced technologies are ideally suited for industrial tasks and support the physical economy by reducing reliance on human labour.

From goods-in and putaway to order picking, packing, labelling, and loading for customer delivery, the versatility of humanoids provides deployment opportunities at each stage of the logistics process.

As with collaborative robots, humanoid robots are designed to work safely alongside humans in warehouse environments, and offer several key benefits for adoption in warehouse operations, including:

Flexibility and Adaptability

Humanoid robots can be deployed to carry out a variety of complex tasks without requiring significant changes to warehouse infrastructure or workflow. Their adaptability allows them to work on predefined paths or respond to changing environments.

AI Integration

They can be equipped with AI systems that allow them to learn, adapt, and make decisions, making them well-suited for dynamic warehouse environments requiring intelligent robots.

Safety

Their design and safety features, such as flexible safety zones and force control, allow them to work safely alongside humans, helping to reduce human errors and ensure a safer working environment.

Operational Efficiency

They can handle repetitive tasks, freeing up skilled workers for higher-value activities and improving overall operational efficiency and accuracy.

Labour

Humanoid robots can help alleviate both labour shortages and skills gaps in the logistics industry, especially during peak seasons or when reliable solutions for human driver roles are limited.

Despite their growing benefits, humanoid robots are still relatively new to the logistics scene. To accelerate their deployment, the integration of AI and technology advancements is key to their development, helping them to adapt and learn faster alongside humans. This has the potential to unlock even greater levels of productivity and worker satisfaction with heavy, awkward, or repetitive tasks being taken over by humanoid service robots. However, this deployment may take some time.

Challenges of Integrating Humanoid Robots in Logistics

The global market for warehouse picking (humanoid) robots, was valued at $6.69 billion in 2023, and is predicted to reach $15.98 billion by 2030, according to a report from NextMSC.

However, the adoption of humanoids for logistics is still at an early stage, hindered by technological and commercial barriers. To become fully integrated into logistics operations, bringing a vital balance of efficiency and cost, there are a few key areas for focus, including:

Technology

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning need to evolve further to enable humanoid robots to perform a wider range of warehouse tasks more efficiently and autonomously using in-built decision-making capabilities provided by advanced software and robotic systems.

Cost

It is still relatively expensive to develop and add humanoid robots to warehouse operations when compared to traditional automation solutions such as conveyor belt systems, pick and place robots, and autonomous mobile robots, which offer a better ROI for many commercial customers.

Safety

Collaborative operation alongside humans is critical for safe operations, minimising the risk of injury or collision, especially when operating near warehouse space shared with person solutions.

System Integration

Humanoid robots will need to integrate with warehouse management systems, automated storage solutions, and other warehouse robotics solutions to ensure a fully streamlined and cohesive operation.

Worker Training

Humans will need to be retrained and upskilled to higher-level roles such as supervising and maintaining robots and managing logistics processes as they become more complex within an efficient supply chain.

Humanoid Robots - From Novelty to Necessary in Logistics

One of Forrester’s five main predictions for smart manufacturing and mobility in 2025 highlighted humanoid robots, saying that while humanoid form robots are impressive feats of innovation, they are not the most effective for significant industrial automation initiatives, and that a lower centre of gravity, stronger arms, or wheels may all help deliver more cost-effective outcomes.

Humanoid robots are a work in progress, but at the pace at which technology is evolving, as we have experienced with AI, it is only a matter of time before we see a wider deployment of humanoid robots across the logistics landscape. Tech companies like Agility Robotics and Figure are already developing humanoid robots tailored for the warehousing industry, with the humanoid robot Figure aiming to perform a range of tasks and assist in dangerous tasks. Gimmick it may be, but probably not for too long.