InDro’s VR humanoid draws crowds at MWC26

InDro’s VR humanoid draws crowds at MWC26

Mar 5, 2026 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Innovation, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

InDro is proud to be displaying, alongside Ericsson, at the huge Mobile World Congress (MWC26) in Barcelona. It’s a massive show, highlighting connectivity and the near-endless variety of solutions that rely on it: Everything from industrial robots and other Industry 4.0 innovations through to AI-powered smart glasses and the myriad of other devices that can help enhance life at home.

We’re alongside Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions – which is demonstrating the power of its Ericsson Private 5G network, or EP5G. It’s the solution for the growing number of companies and sectors that need their own secure, high-bandwidth and ultra low-latency networks to enhance data processing, speed and efficiency. Problem is, you can’t actually *see* what a private 5G network looks like. InDro is on the scene to provide, in a tangible way, a look at what such networks enable.

In this case, we have a humanoid that can be remotely operated over 5G or WiFi using a high-resolution headset and hand controllers. It’s being operated at the show by InDro Forge Hardware Engineering Manager Joel Koscielski. It’s a perfect solution for situations where you might not want to put a person at risk.

“Connected through EP5G, the system essentially allows a highly trained technician to physically embody the robot and perform a series of actions. It’s really been a crowd pleaser so far, and we think it’s a critical stepping stone,” says InDro Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth, who’s also on the scene.

Ericsson also invited Canadian company Cypher Robotics. InDro has incubated Cypher and assisted with the development of its breakthrough Captis system for autonomous cycle counting and inventory management. Rather than explain it all here, check out Luke’s post from the floor of WMC26:

WAIT A MINUTE

 

While our VR tele-operated humanoid is certainly very cool, you might ask yourself: ‘Hang on. That looks cumbersome. Why not just send in a fully autonomous robot to do those difficult jobs?”

Good question. But there’s a gap between perception and reality when it comes to humanoids and their capabilities. Before a robot of any kind can be deployed for a truly autonomous task, it needs to be programmed and trained. This involves machine vision, machine learning, simulation – and much more. But the actions Joel is taking in the video above could actually be used to train that humanoid for a specific task. Here’s Luke once again:

“Imagine you have your most highly trained technician performing a task. The system can collect visual and motion and haptic data, which we can then put into a reinforcement learning algorithm via simulation and then deploy that skill or policy,” he says. In other words, what Joel is doing could be used to teach that robot to one day carry out those functions entirely on its own. 

“Everyone sees humanoids through sci-fi and other mediums and expects them to be autonomous. And while that is the end goal here, we’re showing what we think is a critical, critical piece in that whole puzzle.”

The InDro demo has been drawing huge crowds throughout the show – and those in attendance fully understand the significance of what we’re showing, along with how EP5G is a critical enabler in settings where security and speed count.

Below: The Ericsson/InDro/Cypher Robotics display grabs attention at WMC26, followed by the Cypher Robotics Captis system.

 
 
 
WMC26 humanoid
WMC26 Captis

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We love big shows, and take pleasure not only in showcasing our own innovations, but seeing all the amazing things that others from around the world are working on. WMC26 is a huge show, and we’re still processing everything we’ve seen – and will likely be exploring other innovative technologies which caught our attention that might push InDro’s offerings even further along that cutting edge. 

“We’re pleased with the feedback we’ve received on our VR humanoid project,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “We’re grateful to Ericsson for once again choosing InDro – as well as Cypher Robotics – to help potential clients visualise the incredible power of private 5G networks and the kinds of solutions they enable.”

Luke is planning a full video of his trip – including many of the cool things he saw at the show, as well as a glimpse of Barcelona. Keep an eye out for that on LinkedIn!

A Security Robot With Superpowers for $50k: Meet Prowler

A Security Robot With Superpowers for $50k: Meet Prowler

Feb 11, 2026 | InDro Cortex, InDro Prowler, InDro Solutions, Industry 4.0, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

It wasn’t long ago that purchasing a reliable, robust robot for routine inspection and security patrols could easily cost you $200,000. That was obviously a fair chunk of change – and a pretty substantial barrier to entry for many companies.

InDro’s new Prowler changes the game. Capable of either remote teleoperation or fully autonomous, repeatable missions, Prowler’s wheeled quadruped platform can go just about anywhere: Up and down stairs, over obstacles – it can even clamber over low fences. With 360° high-def video and an ultra-wide LiDAR (360° x 90°), Prowler spots everything in (and even behind) its path.

“Prowler has extremely dynamic terrain traversal capabilities and it’s outfitted to be both tele-operated and also run autonomous missions,” explains Luke Corbeth, InDro’s Head of R&D Sales. “It captures photos, video, can conduct two-way audio – and perform many other functions. So it’s suited to a wide variety of verticals.”

Think construction sites or factory floors. Museums or shopping malls. Truly, Prowler is suitable for pretty much any situation where you might want a 24/7 security guard keeping a close watch on things,

Below: The InDro Prowler, a highly modified wheeled quadruped purpose-built for security and monitoring purposes. 

Prowler

POWERED BY CORTEX

 

The platform and sensors are one thing. But what really gives Prowler the edge is our Cortex brain-box. The InDro device contains very powerful compute and AI capabilities, and allows for the seamless integration of additional sensors, including power distribution. Contained within our InDro Backpack, Cortex comes with our InDro Controller interface pre-loaded, 5G and 4G connectivity, as well as WiFi 6.

That means Prowler can be remotely tele-operated from pretty much anywhere. A human in the loop can monitor and control Prowler’s missions, seeing all data (including realtime video and LiDAR data) with imperceptible lag. InDro Autonomy, our powerful software stack that enables everything from pre-programmed to SLAM missions, can be added on as an option. Prowler comes ready for wireless charging, and can snug up at its home base to be ready for the next mission. And if a client wants to add additional sensors, it’s a snap.

“Absolutely. This has incredible functionality out-of-the-box, but we don’t want the road to stop there,” says Corbeth. “So we still provide the development tools that our clients are accustomed to receiving from us. But the amount of functionality that comes with Prowler is really what makes this an intriguing solution.”

 

OPTIONS FOR ANY USE-CASE

 

Prowler comes with ultra-wide hemispherical LiDAR, a top-mounted 360° camera (with seamless stitching), a forward-facing HD camera, and two-way audio for communicating with anyone it encounters. Prefer a Point-Tilt-Zoom camera or thermal option? No problem. Prowler can be configured in multiple ways, depending on your use-case. We can even pop on a powerful spotlight.

And while Prowler is already highly capable, we plan to add additional features in future that leverage its powerful AI and Machine Vision capabilities.

“Think person detection, animal detection, various other features that turn what the robot is seeing into actionable intelligence – and even actions as well,” says Corbeth. “So down the road, Prowler could send text messages to security teams, perhaps notifying local authorities, things of that nature.”

Weighing just 20 kilograms, Prowler can take on additional eight kilos in payload. And when it’s on a flat surface, this robot zips along at 2.5 metres/second (nine kilometres/hour) on missions that can last as long as 2.5 hours before returning to self-charge. Whether it’s monitoring a critical asset, doing routine security and perimeter runs, Prowler is a robust, powerful and affordable solution. You can find full specs on our package and options here.

Below: This video gives you an idea of the kind of terrain Prowler can tackle.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

This robot contains multiple InDro innovations, including our new and powerful Cortex, as well as InDro Controller, which makes tele-operation (and autonomous missions, with the optional InDro Autonomy software) a breeze. A lot of engineering has gone into these products, and they’ve been designed to work together. Deployments of Prowler are now underway, and we’re taking additional orders. 

“Prowler fills a void in the marketplace,” says InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “I’m not aware of any inspection robot with these capabilities at this price point – other than Prowler. Once again, the InDro R&D engineering team has created a groundbreaking solution suited to multiple use-cases, with the option to further customise for client needs. Prowler means business – and in more than one way.”

Want to continue the conversation or arrange for a demo? Contact Luke Corbeth here.

Adopting inspection robots: Perceived barriers and solutions

Adopting inspection robots: Perceived barriers and solutions

Dec 2, 2025 | InDro Solutions, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

Some companies – and we’ve built for them – have plunged head-first into the adoption of industrial inspection robots. They’re perfect for routinely inspecting assets like electrical substations, refineries, construction sites – the list goes on (and on). InDro robots are currently hard at work on multiple sites – and in more than one country.

Yet still, some potential clients hesitate.

So we thought we’d take the pulse with a survey. Here’s the question we asked, via LinkedIn: “Which of the following challenges do you think is the biggest barrier preventing companies from adopting industrial inspection robots?” Here were the choices:

  • Initial investment
  • Integrating existing systems
  • Terrain/environment challenges
  • Power and endurance

And here…are the results:

Inspection Robot survey

PERCEPTIONS…AND SOLUTIONS

 

So let’s tackle those concerns.

Initial investment is holding back 20 per cent of respondents from taking the plunge. Fair enough. Robots aren’t cheap. A fully customised solution with multiple sensors capable of regular, autonomous inspections in a demanding environment has traditionally cost $100k+ (and still can). Clients wonder if the investment will result in a positive ROI.

“With any new technology tackling any new use-case, it can be challenging to build an ROI calculation right out of the gate because you can’t truly know until you get it out in the field and and are able to use it in the actual desired use-case,” says Head of R&D Sales Luke Corbeth.

But he points out that many clients, once they have purchased a robot, discover that it not only offers ROI for the intended task, but that it can handle ancillary use-cases they hadn’t even considered at the outset. That, he says, has resulted in greater return on investment than some clients initially calculated. The other factor Luke points out is that the last couple of years have seen more powerful solutions appear at lower price points.

“Even two years ago, if you wanted a system capable of multi-level inspection, you had to go with an industrial-sized robot, right? You needed something like the Unitree B2 or Boston Dynamics Spot. Those would run you six figures before you even outfit it with software, cameras, acoustic sensors etc.” says Corbeth.

 
By contrast, highly agile and capable machines like the Go2-W (a wheeled quadruped that InDro can modify for any use-case) is much more affordable, allowing clients to invest even as a proof-of-concept. (The Go2-W, seen below, is capable of handling even the most demanding terrain, including stairs, steep inclines, and debris. It can even climb over short fences.)
wheeled quadruped

INTEGRATING EXISTING SYSTEMS

 

This, according to our survey, was the biggest stumbling block. A full sixty per cent of respondents identified this as a barrier to adopting industrial inspection robots. In all likelihood, these are companies that have legacy systems in place that have served them well – and the perceived complexity of integrating a new robot seems daunting. As Corbeth puts it: “Change is inherently hard.”

But there are solutions – ways for newer robots to capture and integrate data into existing systems, even if they are somewhat dated. Yes, there may be friction. But it’s not the barrier some perceive. InDro’s systems are Open Source/Open Architecture, allowing in-house engineers (or our own) to easily customise the software so the data and your existing system can co-exist in harmony.

Some sectors also use what’s known as “vertical specific” software, meaning systems built for say, the Oil and Gas sector, warehouses (WMS), mining, etc. But that’s not the roadblock some may perceive, says Corbeth.

“As long as the client is willing to expose an API (Application Programming Interface) to us, it’s relatively easy to point all of the data there. So instead of that data being manually collected and uploaded, now it’s automatically captured through autonomous missions and then automatically uploaded over whatever communications infrastructure the client already has.”

Understanding existing client systems and integration concerns is a key part of our discovery process with new clients. We ensure, from the outset, that integration will be as seamless as possible.

 

TERRAIN, POWER, ENDURANCE

 

None of the respondents indicated terrain was an issue. And perhaps that’s not a surprise. The latest generation of platforms, particularly wheeled quadrupeds like the Go2-W, can glide or clamber over just about anything. Tracked platforms can handle mud and snow. There are solutions for virtually every terrain.

Power and endurance are another matter. No one wants an inspection robot that can’t finish the job. In fact, twenty per cent of those who voted in our survey identified this as a concern. And who wants the hassle of plugging something in to recharge after a mission?

The reality is that there have been gains in both power and endurance with the latest generation of platforms. What’s more, InDro can customise any robot to autonomously dock with a wireless charging station so it’s ready for the next mission with no human intervention. Says Corbeth: “It’s pretty much a non-issue at this point.”

With all that being said, there are some unrealistic expectations out there, fuelled by slick videos – particularly of humanoid robots – doing amazing things. If you think you can just buy a humanoid and it’s going to be picking tomatoes the next day while interacting with human beings, think again. Modifying humanoids to flawlessly carry out human tasks takes a lot of work. But many use-cases (particularly for non-humanoid robots) are what Corbeth describes as “low-hanging fruit” – meaning tasks that have massive value implications, are easy to integrate, and get the job done.

“That’s where the sweet spot is,” he says.

Below: Our answers to concerns about integration in a slide format.

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We feel this survey was a useful exercise. It identified common barriers, and gave us an opportunity to set the record straight. The perceived obstacles aren’t really obstacles at all – but engineering challenges. And that’s where InDro excels.

“InDro has built many inspection robots for clients, some of whom had the same initial concerns,” says company Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “Those robots are currently carrying out regular inspections, wirelessly recharging, and heading out to work again the next day or week. Good engineering is all about problem-solving, and we love finding solutions.”

Interested? You can contact Luke to set up a no-obligation discovery call right here.

Bipedal robots step into the scene

Bipedal robots step into the scene

Jul 17, 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.

Will Robots Replace Humans at Scale?

Will Robots Replace Humans at Scale?

Jul 7, 2025 | InDro News, Industry 4.0, Industry News, Robots, Scott Simmie

By Scott Simmie

 

The robots are coming. And, in many places, they’re already here.

Robotic automation has long been integral to manufacturing at scale. Think automobile factories, for example. Robotic arms weld, paint, lift heavy parts – all jobs that at one point in the past were done by humans. We’re all familiar with videos of this process.

But in recent years, we’ve seen something of an inflection point in robotics. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are increasingly common, shuttling goods and lifting heavy loads. There are robots that can load and unload trucks, using special grippers or end effectors. Delivery robots are ubiquitous in some parts of the world, with China leading the pack. And then there’s drones, with companies like Zipline seemingly perfecting the art of small deliveries and shifting from solely medical deliveries to convenience items. Automated devices now unload and place containers from ships – an innovation that led to labour disruptions as longshoremen in the US protested that these machines jeopardise their livelihoods,

The list goes on. And, with the growth now of humanoid robots – which require no infrastructure changes and can carry out many tasks done by humans – the inevitable question arises: Will robots someday replace humans at scale?

It’s a big question. And, for some, kind of a scary one. So we thought we’d explore some thoughts, and predictions, with someone thoroughly in the know: InDro’s Director of Engineering, Arron Griffiths (below).

A GOOD SOURCE

 

We tapped Arron not only because he’s our Director of Engineering, but because he has lived and breathed technology his entire life. Born in Birmingham, he comes from a line of engineers and technologists that goes way back. In fact, because of his father’s profession his family was the first in his neighbourhood to have the internet, and Arron grew up with computers.

“My father is an internet engineer and my grandfather was a welder by trade, and then his father was an engineer and we think his father was an engineer,” says Griffiths. “There’s a lineage on my dad’s side of engineers and skilled trades we believe going all the way back to being tinkerers or something.”

So it’s not surprising that an engineer who has spent decades in robotics spends a lot of time thinking about robots. Not just the mechanics and software – but about their implications. So we asked him: Will robots replace humans at scale?

“It is basically a fear of everyone around robotics, particularly AI as well,” he says. “The answer is yes and no – and let me elaborate a little bit.”

He does so, with a long-term perspective.

“Every Industrial Revolution has caused disruption in some form or another and displaced humans from classical (tasks) in agriculture or industrial manufacturing…so there is definitely going to be a painful period where robotics is adopted, and jobs that were once held by humans get sort of outpaced.”

The driving force here, as with previous Industrial Revolutions, is economics. If a robot can efficiently carry out tasks at a lower overall cost than humans, the case is there for them to be adopted.

“But the trick is to ensure that the economy is growing at the same time. And if the economy is growing, there will always be the need for more people.”

And if the economy doesn’t grow?

“That’s the real scary part. If the economy doesn’t grow with the scale of robotics adoption, then there would be significant disruption, maybe even humans resisting robotics. But if everything grows at a good rate, I think robotic adoption will take maybe 10 years, but there will be a rough patch.”

 

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

 

Remember when Automated Teller Machines were introduced at scale back in the 1970s? There was consternation that tellers would become obsolete. That didn’t happen. Yes, they were convenient for a fast withdrawal or deposit, but ATMs can’t answer questions, can’t assist people with the many reasons they go to a bank. And so yes, every bank has one of those machines. But they also still have tellers.

The same concerns popped up when automated checkouts started appearing at retail outlets. Would sales staff and checkout people disappear? They haven’t (though it’s possible some companies have downsized their staff). But again, automation did not simply replace humans.

A big part of the reason is because human interaction is at the very core of many businesses and our daily lives – and robots are not even close to reaching the stage of handling those complex interactions. Human beings possess qualities that robots do not, at least not yet. Things like creativity, emotional intelligence, the ability to adapt to unforeseen situations.

“Humans are still always going to be needed because we’re never going to be able to get robots in the near term to think, feel, imagine, communicate quite like a human with other humans directly,” says Griffiths. “So yeah, I think humans definitely have a one up and will have that advantage for the foreseeable decade or so.”

The other thing Griffiths points out is that robotics are definitely more prevalent in more technologically developed parts of the word – and there are huge swaths of the planet where they are relatively rare and that adoption will take a very long time.

“In Western industry, we’ll definitely see a lot more automation. But in emerging markets like Africa, India, (they’re) still going to rely on humans. So it depends on where you are in the world, I think.”

The caveat? It used to always be said that robots are perfect for jobs that are dirty, dull and dangerous. That’s still true. But with advances in AI and Large Language Models (as well as the development of humanoids and other collaborative robots, or co-bots intended to work alongside humans) we are potentially at the early stages of a shift. Robots will, in future, take on more tasks that aren’t simply one of the three Ds.

Below: Agility’s Digit, showing off its ability to pick up ingredients for a pasta dinner. Yes, it’s slow. But you can be confident it will get faster, Still, we’re willing to bet most people will prefer to do their own shopping. A robot can’t make the split-decisions a human is likely to make when selecting one product over another, for example. 

INDRO’S TAKE

 

We are definitely in changing times. Advances in robotics will continue – and most of the current demand is indeed for robots that can carry out those dirty, dull and dangerous jobs. But, over time, we’ll see more of them carrying out other tasks and developing greater problem solving skills – including (with AI) the ability to communicate more easily with humans.

But are we on the cusp of an era where there will be mass displacement of humans?

“There will be some disruption in the future for sure,” says InDro Founder and CEO Philip Reece. “But, as we’ve seen with previous Industrial Revolutions and the adoption of ATMs etc, the sky didn’t fall. There will also be more jobs created in robotics, AI, and other related fields we can’t even foresee yet. Will robots continue to expand in fields where they can help humans and productivity? Absolutely. But human beings are resilient, creative and adaptable. And – though I’m obviously a fan of what robots can do – there will always be a human advantage. Yes, the robots are coming. But they’re not going to rule the world.”

InDro, by the way, focuses on custom R&D and robots for clients and our own inspection and scanning products that cater to the dirty, dull and dangerous. We’re not out to replace your job – only to enhance productivity where it’s a fit.

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.