Industrial AI and robotics deployment in Germany

German industrial companies are advancing the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics through digital ecosystems and humanoid technology.

Schaeffler received the German Innovation Award for its ‘Industrial Metaverse,’ a platform that connects physical production plants with virtual environments. This system uses AI and simulations to train autonomous systems, such as humanoid robots and automated guided vehicles, in a virtual setting before they are deployed physically. The company intends to expand this implementation to 50% of its global plants by 2030.

Building on these digital foundations, companies are moving toward physical deployment. Siemens and NVIDIA have tested the HMND 01 Alpha humanoid robot for autonomous logistical tasks at a manufacturing plant in Erlangen. Concurrently, Schaeffler and Hexagon Robotics have begun training AEON humanoid robots using a ‘Train-Validate-Deploy’ model, which utilizes imitation learning to prepare the robots for industrial integration.

In a recent milestone, AEON humanoid robots have commenced training at Schaeffler’s ‘Humanoid Gym’ in Germany. This facility uses imitation learning and repeated execution to ensure reliability in manufacturing settings. Schaeffler plans to deploy at least 1,000 AEON units globally in the coming years and will provide advanced actuator technology for the robots.

Furthering the sector's growth, Bosch has partnered with the London-based startup Humanoid to begin mass production of humanoid robots. Scheduled to start in August 2027 at the Bosch plant in Bühl, Germany, the project aims to produce several hundred units initially. Bosch will serve as a contract manufacturer and may supply motors and sensors, with Schaeffler identified as an early customer for these units.