Bipedal robots step into the scene

Bipedal robots step into the scene

Jul 10, 2025 | bipedal, bipedal vs humanoid, Humanoids, Industry 4.0, Industry News, robots that walk, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

There’s been a lot of buzz over bipedal robots in recent years.

Companies like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Unitree and others have developed powerful algorithms and leading edge hardware to make what was once science fiction a reality. There are now an increasing number of walking (and sometimes talking) upright robots that get around on two legs. These tend to be humanoids, but they are bipedal.

There’s a certain cool factor to seeing robots that walk like people. But the push for bipedal robots is also driven by infrastructure: Factories and other settings where such devices might be deployed have been built for people. So robots that can walk and are roughly human size can work in such spaces without infrastructure changes.

“With the automobile, we had to build roads,” said Jonathan Hurst, Chief Technology Officer of Agility Robotics, in an explanatory video. “With legged robots we’ve already built the infrastructure. Legged robots are going to change the world as much as the automobile did.”

As the saying goes, time will tell. But before we proceed, it’s worth mentioning that bipedal doesn’t necessarily mean humanoid.

“A humanoid typically mimics the human form – so it has a head, torso, arms and legs,” explains Luke Corbeth, InDro’s Head of R&D Sales.

“Bipedal simply means it walks on two legs, but it doesn’t need to look human. So while most humanoids are bipedal, not all bipedal robots are humanoids.”

Below: Agility’s Cassie – a bipedal, non-humanoid robot. Immense R&D went into developing this machine, with many of the lessons learned applied to its current Digit humanoid

THE BIPEDAL-HUMANOID CONNECTION

 

As the video illustrated, bipedal robots aren’t necessarily humanoid (though they can be). But since the non-humanoid versions don’t have arms or manipulators, what are the use-cases?

First off, they’re critical tools in the R&D space. Before any company attempts a full-blown humanoid, it needs to perfect locomotion, balance and gait. That, of course, requires intensive hardware and software development. Many in the research space don’t have the time or resources to build from scratch. By starting with an existing bipedal robot they can rapidly start working on improving algorithms, adding autonomy stacks, machine vision, etc.

“Achieving stable and efficient bipedal locomotion is really the first critical milestone – so it involves doing things like balancing the gait, being very energy efficient and knowing how to recover from various disturbances,” says Corbeth. “But once that’s dialed in, you can build advanced capabilities on top of it, things like manipulation or autonomous navigation. So starting with a bipedal platform can help clients achieve their ultimate goals much sooner”

Not surprisingly, clients for bipedal, non-humanoid platforms are often in the R&D space.

“For anyone specifically researching bipedal locomotion, these devices make sense,” he adds. “It allows them to really focus on research and control, computer vision and AI applications. It’s an accessible platform for labs to really accelerate their work on humanoids.”

In other words, perfecting a bipedal platform is critical in the development of full humanoid robots.

 

RISE OF THE HUMANOIDS

 

We recently took a dive into humanoids here.

To recap briefly, humanoids are on the rise because their form factor allows them to integrate with existing infrastructure. With arms and manipulators/end effectors, they can carry out many of the tasks that humans perform. Bipedal design means they can climb stairs or navigate other obstacles. Even humanoids with wheels or tracks can now carry out these manoeuvres.

“Humanoid robots have become one of the most frontier topics in the field of robot research [1],” states this research paper. “Owing to the human-like structures and strong environmental adaptability [2], biped robots can directly operate the tools and vehicles used by humans, showing wide application prospects in fields such as home service, industrial manufacturing and environmental detection [3]…Ongoing research…shows great potential in human–robot collaboration and autonomous operation [6].”

Many of the tasks bipedal robots will eventually carry out aren’t even fully known yet, as these new commercial products are very much – despite some really impressive machines – in the early stages of adoption and deployment. It’s a safe bet that every company currently selling bipedal or humanoid robots is hard at work in the lab on the next generation. There’s a lot of development in the pipeline.

“Better battery life is kind of on everyone’s wishlist – the runtime of a humanoid or bipedal robot simply isn’t as long as some of the traditional wheeled or track systems. There are also other things like faster and safer locomotion and, of course, dexterous hands,” says Corbeth.

We hit up AI for some thoughts on where these machines are going. It concurs that the full benefits of bipedal robots have yet to be realised.

“While bipedal robots offer unique advantages, it’s worth noting that they are still under development, and their efficiency and practicality in certain applications are still being evaluated. For example, wheeled robots might be more energy-efficient for certain tasks on flat surfaces. However, for navigating complex, unstructured environments and interacting with human-scale tools and spaces, bipedal robots offer a promising solution.”

In addition to humanoids, InDro now offers a strictly bipedal, non-humanoid platform primarily for R&D. As with most platforms, our engineers are currently working on expanding its capabilities to enable it more fully for R&D and industrial clients. We will soon be integrating InDro Cortex, a brain-box that enables everything from remote teleoperation and sensor integration to fully autonomous and/or easily programmable missions.

“We’re looking to add our Cortex solution – the hardware and the software and the autonomy – to our humanoids and bipedal robots,” says Corbeth. “We see opportunities to integrate advanced autonomy, teleoperation and perception pipelines into this equipment…making them a turnkey solution for advanced humanoid development and real-world testing.”

Below: A great video explanation of the bipedal advantage, followed by the bipedal robot InDro now has available

Multi Modal Biped Robot

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Bipedal robots are the precursor to full-blown humanoids. Not only does the humanoid form factor work well in existing infrastructure, they’re seen by many as the ideal collaborative robots, or co-bots. People seem more at ease with something that looks vaguely human (with the notable exception of Terminator’s T800).

“The human form factor is just intuitive for people to interact with – and the similar size helps them use human tools and really fit in well in workspaces,” says Corbeth. “Some may argue as well they also kind of build trust, which is crucial for collaborative robots operating around or with people.”

And for those in the R&D space looking for a bipedal-only platform, we’ve got you covered.

We look forward to sharing more about our bipedal and humanoid robots in future, particularly once we’ve supercharged them with InDro Cortex. If you’re curious to learn more, feel free to contact Luke Corbeth.

The rise of the humanoid robots

The rise of the humanoid robots

May 12, 2025 | Humanoids, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Did you catch the recent news?

A few cool things have popped up on the humanoid front. The first is that Hyundai Motor Group – which owns a majority share in Boston Dynamics – announced it will purchase “tens of thousands” of robots for use in its factories in coming years. It’s part of a $21B US investment in United States operations, which includes $6B “to drive innovation and expand strategic partnerships with U.S. companies” according to this news release.

Hyundai has already deployed the Boston Dynamics quadruped Spot at some facilities, but the release makes it appear that the future is humanoid.

“Physical AI and humanoid robots will transform our business landscape to the next level. Through our collaboration, we will expedite the process to achieve leadership in the robotics industry,” said Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group.

The other news of note? Both Boston Dynamics and Agility Robotics (the makers of humanoid Digit) will join A3 (the Association for Advancing Automation) to develop a new safety standard for robots in the workplace. It’s said that the recent advances in humanoid robots were a key catalyst for the project.

How widespread will the adoption of humanoids be? Well, recent analysis by Morgan Stanley predicts eight million units will be on the job by 2040, and 63 million by 2050. Think about that for a minute.

Below: Atlas in a factory setting trial. Note the mistake – followed by an AI-driven correction

WHY HUMANOIDS?

 

There are plenty of robots on the market with a variety of form factors. There are wheeled AMRs, quadrupeds, fixed robotic arms – and more. So what is it about humanoids that differentiates them?

“Humanoid robots assume a human-like form factor,” explains InDro’s Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth. “It means it has bipedal or two-legged locomotion. They also tend to include dexterous hands – the ability to pick and place objects. They also ideally have some kind of autonomous functionality and the ability to interact with the environment in smart ways.”

Because of their bipedal form factor, humanoids tend to remind us of human beings (which is obviously how they get their name). Nearly all humanoids currently on the market are about the size of a human – and there’s a reason for that: Workplaces are largely built for people.

“What makes the humanoid form factor really exciting is, unlike traditional robots, the infrastructure doesn’t need to change to accommodate it. As a result, it can adapt to navigating different environments using existing equipment. This means we don’t need to retrofit factories, offices, and homes. So there’s much faster deployment for companies looking to adopt this technology,” he adds.

 

HANG ON A SECOND

 

You’ve no doubt seen videos by now of humanoids carrying out tasks. Often, these videos have been sped up. Humanoids, with rare exceptions, don’t yet move at the speed of human beings – and often have to pause to understand and perceive their environment.

But does that matter?

“The answer is kind of no,” says Corbeth. “In a lot of cases, humanoids can work around the clock. So if they’re slightly slower than humans are today, their overall productivity can still be higher. Plus, we’re still in the early phases of humanoids, so we do expect their speed and dexterity to continue improving over time.”

That being said, you can’t simply drop a humanoid into a factory setting and expect it to carry out work – at least not yet. Like a human employee, robots need training – often via remote teleoperation, coding, and additional autonomy stacks before they’re capable of punching the clock.

At InDro, we’re a North American distributor for Unitree, a leading global robotics manufacturer. In addition to its G1 and H1 (and H1-2) humanoid robots, the company has put considerable resources into its Dex5 dexterous hand. You’ll see in the video below it’s getting close to human-like capabilities – and that the G1 has impressive speed and agility even on challenging terrain.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

It’s still early days. But we’re excited about the potential for humanoids in an Industry 4.0 setting – and have some plans on this front.

“As an R&D company, we know that integrating any robot into a real-world setting takes work,” says Indro Robotics Founder/CEO Philip Reece. “With products like InDro Controller and our InDro Autonomy software stack – plus another innovation we’ll be releasing later this year – we have the ability to significantly enhance stock humanoids and dial them in for specific work settings. Humanoids are here to stay.”

Interested in learning more? Get in touch with us here.

I, Robot: The Humanoids are here

I, Robot: The Humanoids are here

Feb 27, 2025 | Autonomy, Humanoids, Industry News, Robotics, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

You might own a robot without even realising it.

Have a Roomba? That’s a robot. And a drone? That’s a flying robot. Even a Tesla, in Full Self-Driving mode, is a robot.

There are a lot of definitions out there – but one we particularly like comes from Maja Matarić, a computer scientist, roboticist and AI researcher at the University of California. In her book, The Robotics Primer, she concisely defines a robot as “an autonomous system which exists in the physical world, can sense its environment, and can act on it to achieve some goals.”

Whether that goal is to vacuum your floor, capture aerial data, or weld a part in a factory, we feel this is a really clear definition. It also doesn’t delineate between platforms: A robot that fits this bill could be stationary, wheeled, a quadruped or even a humanoid.

And it’s that last platform – humanoid – that’s been getting a lot of buzz recently. Numerous companies are now manufacturing robots that resemble human beings in their form factor. And, as it turns out, for very good reasons.

Below: Ameca, a robot built by the UK’s Engineered Arts, is known for its eery ability to mimic human expressions

Ameca robotics AI

WHY HUMANOID?

 

The idea of a humanoid robot has been around for longer than you might think. Leonardo Da Vinci designed – and possibly built – an automaton in the late 15th Century. It’s known currently as Leonardo’s Robot or Leonardo’s Mechanical Knight. According to Wikipedia, “The robot’s design largely consists of a series of pulleys that allow it to mimic human motions. Operational versions of the robot have been reconstructed by multiple researchers after the discovery of Leonardo’s sketches in the 1950s.”

It appears that the purpose of this design was for entertainment (which also fits the definition of a goal), but it fell short when it comes to sensing its environment and autonomy. Still, it’s fascinating to know the Italian inventor turned his attention to designing a mechanical device in human form way back then.

It would take another half a millennia before the first true humanoid robot would be built. In the early 1970s, the Wabot was unveiled in Japan. It was anthropomorphic, with two arms and two legs. It also contained a vision system, audio sensors and could speak in Japanese. According to this overview, “It was estimated that the WABOT-1 has the mental faculty of a one-and-half-year-old child.”

Below: A modern reproduction, based on Leonardo Da Vinci’s sketches, of his “Mechanical Knight” complete with inner mechanisms. It’s followed by an image of Wabot-1 from 1973

Da Vinci humanoid robot
1973 Wabot humanoid

THE HUMAN ADVANTAGE

 

Why create a humanoid in the first place?

Well, there are certain advantages to a human form factor, particularly when it comes to carrying out repetitive tasks in the real world. And the reason? The world around us has been built for humans. If there’s an existing task carried out by people, say pick-and-place, the infrastructure for that task has been created with humans in mind. That means conveyor belts, shelving, cupboards etc. are all designed for the average human. If you build a robot in a human-like form and roughly to scale, that’s a big advantage.

“You don’t need to change the surrounding infrastructure to accommodate the robot,” explains Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth.

“The end result obviously is faster deployment. This applies to factories, homes, hospitals, pretty much any use-case. None of these locations need to be robot native to effectively leverage a humanoid robot because they’ve been built for people.”

In fact, humanoid robots have already been deployed on some factory floors. They’re ideally suited to repetitive tasks such as picking up an item and moving it from one location to another – and contain tactile feedback sensors in their manipulators to calculate appropriate grip strength. They could also be deployed, says Corbeth, in environments built for humans – but which may pose hazards. An example, says Corbeth, might be for inspections or maintenance inside a nuclear facility in a radioactive environment.

“There are a lot of dexterous tasks people are doing today that are very challenging to automate because they require high levels of precision,” he says. “These are perfect tasks for humanoids.”

Looking down the road, many foresee an era when humanoids are affordable enough – and capable enough – for deployment in homes. There, they could carry out some of the more mundane household tasks like cleaning or clothes washing, perhaps even elder care and companionship.

A growing number of companies are now in the humanoid space, including Tesla (Optimus), Agility (Digit), Boston Dynamics (Atlas), and Figure (Figure 02). InDro Robotics is a distributor for Unitree, and carries the G1 humanoid and H1 and H1-2 research and development models. (We can also modify these robots for specific use-cases.)

The base version of the G1 sells for $21,600 US – which is surprisingly reasonable for a humanoid form factor. Corbeth says the current offerings are a result of a “perfect storm” across multiple advances in AI compute, battery, sensor and manufacturing technologies. The more advanced H1 sells for $99,600 US and is better suited for complex R&D.

 

WHAT’S NEXT

 

Humanoids are already in the real world. With further and inevitable advances in AI, Machine Vision and Machine Learning (as well as sensors, manipulators, etc.) it’s safe to assume that humanoids will only get smarter and better at smoothly carrying out fully autonomous tasks.

“I think that it will be probably, realistically, three to five years before you see walking humanoid robots around people all the time,” Dr, David Hanson, Founder of Hanson Robotics recently told the South China Morning Post.

“I think we are entering the age of living intelligent machines. It’s coming. Machine consciousness, self-determining machines…it’s on its way. And if we see that happen, then we want to make sure that we make the AI good, compassionate, able to connect and want the best for humans.” Yes, indeed.

And a final note. At some point, these humanoids will be good enough to manufacture themselves. That’s historically been something in the realm of science fiction. However, a recent TechCrunch story pointed out a new partnership between humanoid developers Apptronik and manufacturer Jabril.

“This means that should everything go according to plan, the humanoid robot will eventually be put to work building itself,” says the article.

Below: A C-NET video outlines developments expected in this field in 2025

INDRO’S TAKE

 

Because we sell and modify humanoids in addition to designing and building our own robots (and robots for clients), we’re obviously interested in this space. While we don’t have plans to develop our own humanoid (yet), we are currently working with the Unitree G1 and H1 models to evaluate and enhance their capabilities. And yes, we’ve already sold these to customers.

“Humanoids are a logical progression in robotics,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “While they’re not the solution for every use-case, they have a clear role in carrying out repetitive or even dangerous tasks that are currently carried out by humans. I suspect, in the not-so-distant future, humanoids will be working alongside people in an ever-increasing number of settings.”

Interested in learning more? Contact us here.