Fraunhofer IOSB and Schaeffler advance industrial humanoid robotics

The Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (IOSB) opened a Humanoid Robots Experience Lab in Karlsruhe, Lemgo and Ilmenau. The lab offers industry, small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises, municipalities, emergency services and defence organisations a hands‑on environment to test humanoid robots, evaluate safety and autonomy, and co‑develop concrete use‑case roadmaps for applications such as variable‑environment production, inspection, agriculture, critical infrastructure and security.

Schaeffler announced a strategic partnership with Chinese firm Leju Robotics to create industrial humanoid robots for factory inspection, equipment assistance, logistics and human‑robot collaboration. The collaboration targets the integration of a mid‑four‑digit number of humanoids into Schaeffler’s production lines by 2035. Schaeffler will provide key components—including bearings, precision drives, motors, sensors and thermal‑ and battery‑management systems—leveraging its long‑standing manufacturing expertise to accelerate the transition from research prototypes to pilot and series‑production solutions.