In my grandfather’s jewelry workshop, I witnessed the impact of repetitive tasks on human creativity, a challenge that inspired me to reimagine workplace dynamics through humanoid robotics that complement, rather than compete, with human workers.
The debate around robots in the workplace often gravitates toward a false dichotomy: humans versus machines. As the founder of Humanoid, the UK’s first AI humanoid robotics company, I have observed that this narrative overlooks the transformative potential of human-robot collaboration.
Man-machine collaboration
Actually, we have already seen a number of successful examples of human-machine collaboration in various industries: manufacturing, automotive sector in particular, healthcare and hospitality.
We’re seeing collaborative robots increasingly improve efficiency and customer service experiences in these industries, from Kime robots serving drinks at autonomous kiosks in Spain to BMW’s Spartanburg plan using cobots for door assembly tasks. .
Another example is ANYmal from the Zurich-based Robotic Systems Lab (RSL). Its ANYmal product is a quadruped robot designed for autonomous operation in challenging environments such as industrial inspection. It can navigate complex terrain and carry specialized sensory equipment weighing less than 30kg.
RSL has also developed SpaceBok, a lightweight quadruped robot designed to investigate dynamic leg locomotion for space exploration, which features modular components for various experiments and is optimized for explosive jumping maneuvers. In the field of environmental monitoring, RSL’s ANYmal Dodo robot recently completed a challenging hike, demonstrating the lab’s progress in creating robots capable of traversing difficult outdoor terrain.
Across all industries, the promise and potential of human-robot collaboration includes not only greater efficiency and productivity, but also greater safety, more informed decision-making, greater flexibility, 24-hour operations, 7 days a week, reduced costs and a strong ability to multitask and for humans to focus on higher value priorities.
For example, a Dutch startup, Monumental, has raised $25 million to develop AI-powered autonomous robots for heavy construction tasks like masonry. The idea is that its robots will help address labor shortages and improve efficiency by working alongside human workers to automate mundane and repetitive tasks.
The European approach
The European approach to robotics is distinguished from its international counterparts by its emphasis on barrier-free integration and the preservation of skills. While other global players may focus on automation to increase efficiency, European initiatives such as the innovative Sharework project and SHERLOCK show a different philosophy focused on human-robot cooperation, knowledge transfer of older workers and access democratized to automation technology.
According to a recent MIT study, an aging population is a major driver of robotics adoption in the workplace, with aging demographics accounting for 35% of the variation in robot use between countries, as Companies implement automation primarily to fill labor shortages caused by the aging workforce rather than purely by technological advancement. This trend, particularly in Europe, has evolved towards collaborative human-robot workplaces, where robots are designed to preserve and amplify the human experience rather than replace workers, allowing older workers to transfer their knowledge while Robots handle physically demanding tasks.
This approach prioritizes the preservation of craftsmanship while making manufacturing more inclusive and accessible to small and medium-sized businesses.
Take, for example, the Sharework project, where robots work alongside humans without protective barriers, as demonstrated by the implementation of the Goizper Group in the Basque Country, where collaborative robots were successfully integrated into their servo-rotating table assembly area for power transmission components.
This is not just a technological achievement: it is a fundamental change in the way we perceive security and collaboration in the workplace.
Cobots
These so-called cobots or collaborative robots are equipped with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence systems that allow them to understand and respond to human movements, making them safe enough to share the same workspace as their human colleagues.
The psychological impact of this barrier-free collaboration is profound. When workers see robots as tools that enhance their capabilities rather than threats to their employment, workplace anxiety decreases and job satisfaction increases.
At Humanoid, we believe that employees who work alongside humanoid robots will be better able to focus on creative and strategic tasks, knowing that repetitive or physically demanding work is being performed by their robotic colleagues.
The SHERLOCK initiative, another European initiative, goes further by developing robots that can learn from human experience. Instead of programming robots with rigid instructions, these systems observe human workers, learn their techniques, and adapt to different scenarios. This approach preserves and amplifies human craftsmanship rather than replacing it, a crucial distinction in industries where skill and precision are important.
democratize manufacturing
What is particularly interesting is how this collaborative approach is democratizing manufacturing.
Traditional industrial robots required extensive programming experience and significant infrastructure changes, effectively limiting automation to large corporations.
Modern humanoid robots, designed for human collaboration, are more adaptable and easier to use. This means that small and medium-sized businesses can now access automation technologies.
Additionally, this collaborative approach is opening up manufacturing to a more diverse workforce. By having robots perform physically demanding tasks, we are removing traditional barriers that may have prevented certain people from entering manufacturing roles.
The European human-robot collaboration model also addresses a critical challenge: the preservation of manufacturing expertise. As experienced workers retire, their knowledge can be captured and transferred through robots, ensuring that craftsmanship and industry-specific skills are not lost to time. These robots become not only tools but also repositories of human expertise, working alongside newer employees as assistants and training aids.
The future of work
Looking ahead, the future of work is not about choosing between humans or robots, but about creating synergies between the two. As we continue to develop more sophisticated humanoid robots, our focus remains on enhancing human potential rather than replacing it. The workplace of tomorrow will be one where humans and robots collaborate seamlessly, each bringing their unique strengths.
This is not just automation: it is an increase in human capacity. And in the future, the question will not be whether robots will take our jobs, but rather how they can help us do them better, safer and with greater satisfaction.
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