Humanoid, a UK-based robotics innovator, and German motion technology giant Schaeffler AG have announced a major five-year strategic partnership. The collaboration is set to deploy hundreds of Humanoid’s robots into Schaeffler’s global production facilities, moving beyond pilot projects toward large-scale industrial automation.
This isn’t just another robot trial. This partnership represents a comprehensive blueprint for integrating humanoid robots into the gritty reality of high-precision manufacturing. Over the next five years, the alliance will cover everything from initial beta testing and Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) commercial models to the co-development of next-generation actuator components and shared data strategies for AI training. It’s a full-stack approach to making humanoid robots a practical, reliable fixture on the factory floor.
The roadmap is methodical. Initial deployments with beta-stage robots are scheduled for 2026-2027, according to the companies. This critical phase won’t be about flashy demonstrations. Instead, it will focus on rigorous validation—ensuring the robots seamlessly integrate with Schaeffler’s complex systems while meeting stringent safety, IT, and security protocols. Success will be measured against hard metrics: performance, efficiency, availability, and ease of integration. Once proven, Humanoid plans to offer its robots via flexible RaaS subscriptions for wider rollout, giving Schaeffler a scalable path to adoption.
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Beyond deployment, the partnership digs into the core hardware that makes robots move. Schaeffler, a leader in precision motion components, will become the preferred supplier for joint actuators in Humanoid’s wheeled platform. More importantly, the two companies will explore joint development of next-generation actuators, meaning future robots could be built with custom, optimized drive systems from the ground up. This deep hardware collaboration is a significant differentiator, moving beyond a simple vendor-buyer relationship to true co-innovation.
Perhaps the most forward-thinking element lies in the shared data mission. The companies will collaborate on collecting vast amounts of operational data—from robot sensor feeds and teleoperation sessions to synthetic data generation. This treasure trove of information will be used to train and refine the AI models that control the robots, creating skills specifically honed for Schaeffler’s unique tasks and environments. It’s a continuous improvement loop where every action the robots take makes the entire fleet smarter.
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For Humanoid, this partnership is the ultimate validation test. Artem Sokolov, founder of Humanoid, emphasized the significance: “Real-world integration is the ultimate test for humanoid robots. Moving from pilots to large-scale deployment requires close alignment on systems, data, safety, and operations with our partners… Together, we are laying the groundwork for humanoid robots to become a practical and reliable part of industrial environments within just a few years.” This sentiment was echoed by Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, who stated, “With Humanoid, we are gaining an attractive partner in Europe that will enable us to drive forward joint innovations in the field of humanoid robotics.”
The partnership signals a major shift. It moves the conversation from “if” humanoids will be useful in industry to “how” they will be systematically integrated. By combining Humanoid’s agile robotics and AI expertise with Schaeffler’s decades of manufacturing and industrialization mastery, this alliance is building the practical foundation for the next wave of factory automation.
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