Humanoid Robots and the Future of Automation

This article has been translated using artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence has made the leap from the digital world to the physical one. At the Future Trends Forum, hosted by Fundación Innovación Bankinter, 40 international experts analyzed the impact of Embodied AI on key sectors such as industry, healthcare, and logistics.

In this context, Francesco Ferro, CEO of PAL Robotics—recently named “Robotics CEO of the Year 2024” by European CEO—shared his vision for the future of humanoid robots and advanced automation.

As AI continues to evolve, robotics is reaching a tipping point: to what extent can robots integrate into our daily lives and industrial environments? What role will humanoids play in this emerging ecosystem? In his keynote at the Future Trends Forum, Ferro breaks down the leading trends in robotics, the current state of the industry, and the main challenges automation faces in Europe.

🎥 You can watch Francesco Ferro’s talk here:

Francesco Ferro: “Advanced robotics for industrial application” #EmbodiedAIForum

PAL Robotics: Two Decades of Innovation in Service Robotics

PAL Robotics is one of the most established companies in the field of robotics for task automation in logistics, healthcare, retail, and other service sectors. Founded 20 years ago, the company has played a key role in developing advanced robotic platforms for research, industry, and services. Headquartered in Barcelona, with offices in Toulouse (France) and Bari (Italy), the company has contributed to automation projects across Europe.

From designing mobile robots to creating humanoids for research, PAL Robotics has evolved alongside the progress of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Francesco Ferro emphasizes the importance of collaboration with both the scientific community and industry, noting that the company’s platforms enable researchers and developers to explore new applications for robotics.

“At PAL Robotics, we focus on research and development, but also on bringing real-world solutions to market.” – Francesco Ferro

PAL Robotics’ Platforms and Solution

Robotics in Europe: PAL Robotics’ Role in the AI Strategy

In addition to leading PAL Robotics, Francesco Ferro plays an active role in the European robotics ecosystem. As a board member of euRobotics, an organization with over 250 members, he works to promote robotics and artificial intelligence across the region. The European Commission has included robotics as a strategic component of its AI policy, recognizing the need to combine big data, machine learning, and automation to drive technological innovation.

Within this framework, initiatives like Adra (AI, Data and Robotics Association) have been launched as public-private partnerships to shape the EU’s AI strategy. Furthermore, the Commission has created the Artificial Intelligence Office, aiming to recruit 60 researchers focused on generative AI applied to robotics.

“We’re helping shape Europe’s strategy in AI and robotics, aligning our efforts with the Commission to accelerate the development of these technologies.” – Francesco Ferro

The Big Question: Do Humanoids Have a Future?

The future of humanoid robots remains a topic of debate. While some experts question their commercial viability, others see them as a cornerstone of advanced automation. Francesco Ferro acknowledges that, although the development of bipedal robots is still largely in the research phase, recent advances in AI and hardware design are accelerating their progress.

PAL Robotics has developed several humanoid robots that have served as research platforms for universities and tech companies. However, Ferro points out that in many industrial scenarios, mobile manipulators with wheels continue to be more efficient and cost-effective.

“Humanoid robots generate a lot of expectations, but in many use cases, a combination of mobile manipulation and collaborative robotics is more efficient than a biped.” – Francesco Ferro

Despite these challenges, interest in humanoids is growing. Companies like Tesla, with its Optimus robot, and Boston Dynamics, with Atlas, are actively exploring their applications in manufacturing and logistics. Additionally, the recent keynote by NVIDIA’s CEO, which featured multiple humanoid robots, signals a shift toward more realistic and practical solutions in this field.

Beyond the technical hurdles, there is a deeper challenge: the relationship between humans and humanoid robots. The concept of the Uncanny Valley, coined by Professor Masahiro Mori in the 1970s, describes the discomfort people feel when a robot appears almost—but not quite—human. This phenomenon plays a significant role in the social acceptance and daily integration of humanoid robots.

Five Key Trends in Robotics

The evolution of robotics is being shaped by five major trends that are redefining automation across various sectors. According to Francesco Ferro, these trends are driven not only by technological innovation but also by growing demand for more efficient solutions in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and retail. Through the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), where Ferro serves as Chair of the Service Robotics Group, the following key developments have been identified:

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Robotics

Machine learning is enabling robots to become increasingly autonomous and capable of adapting to dynamic environments. At PAL Robotics, AI is used to enhance human-robot interaction, autonomous navigation, and real-time decision-making. These capabilities are essential for sectors such as healthcare—where robots can assist patients—and retail, where they help optimize inventory management.

2. Cobots in New Applications

Collaborative robots (cobots) have been gaining ground compared to traditional industrial robots. Designed to work safely alongside humans, cobots are being adopted in industries that previously had not considered automation. Ferro notes that while adoption is growing, the number of deployed cobots remains lower than traditional industrial robots. Nevertheless, their potential in tasks such as product assembly, surgical assistance, and warehouse packaging makes them a key trend to watch.

3. Mobile Manipulators: Autonomy and Versatility

Mobile manipulators combine mobility with manipulation capabilities, allowing them to perform complex tasks in dynamic environments. Ferro explains that these robots are becoming increasingly relevant in logistics and industrial automation. At PAL Robotics, they’ve developed solutions that allow robots to navigate autonomously across large facilities and collaborate with other systems for efficient warehouse management or hospital support.

4. Digital Twins: Simulation and Optimization in Robotics

The concept of the Digital Twin is being applied in robotics to simulate and optimize processes before deploying them in real environments. By integrating sensors, 3D modeling, and AI, companies can test and improve robotic performance in advance. Ferro highlights its value in manufacturing and logistics, where it enables error detection and robot reprogramming without disrupting production.

5. Humanoids: Between Research and Industry

Humanoid robots are one of the most eye-catching trends in robotics, yet their industrial adoption remains limited—as previously discussed. Ferro emphasizes that, while development is advancing, most commercial applications today can be effectively addressed using mobile robots and traditional manipulators.

These trends are already impacting multiple sectors. Ferro notes significant growth in robotics applications across transportation and logistics (+35%), hospitality (+31%), agriculture (+21%), professional cleaning (+4%), and healthcare and medical services (+38%).

Industrial Automation: Beyond Humanoids

While humanoid robots often steal the headlines, industrial automation is evolving in other directions. Francesco Ferro highlights the success of PAL Robotics’ stock management robots, which currently operate in 13 countries, performing daily inventory in major retail chains. These systems improve product tracking efficiency without the need for human intervention.

Another rapidly growing area is that of cobots and mobile manipulators, which automate handling tasks in factories and warehouses. The key lies in combining AI, computer vision, and autonomous mobility to create flexible and efficient solutions.

“Mobile robots are transforming key sectors such as logistics and manufacturing by reducing costs and increasing productivity.” – Francesco Ferro

The Future of Robotics

Ferro concluded his talk by emphasizing Europe’s role in shaping the future of robotics. Despite strong competition from the U.S. and Asia, Europe maintains a collaborative approach, focused on building common standards. The creation of the AI Office and the advancement of a unified robotics strategy within the European Union are critical steps toward establishing the region as a global leader in automation.

“Europe has the opportunity to lead in robotics and AI, but it requires investment and collaboration between companies, universities, and public institutions.” – Francesco Ferro

The debate around humanoids, generative AI in robotics, and the broader future of automation is far from settled. What is clear, however, is that companies like PAL Robotics will continue to drive this technological transformation.

Francesco Ferro’s session at the Future Trends Forum made it clear: robotics is undergoing a profound evolution. From autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to humanoids, the challenge is to find the most effective applications for each type of technology. With the support of AI and machine learning, robots are no longer just tools—they are becoming intelligent collaborators.

Europe has a real opportunity to play a leading role in this transformation. But success will depend on investment in innovation, collaboration across sectors, and social acceptance of these technologies.

Are we ready to live and work alongside robots that interact with us in our everyday lives?