The humanoid robot market could experience a boom, with projections indicating a substantial and sustained increase over the next decade. Source: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies
Industrial robots have become indispensable in modern manufacturing, performing tasks with precision, speed, and efficiency. As we look ahead, humanoid robots could rapidly grow, not only in manufacturing, but also in a wide range of applications. Specially designed sealing solutions made of high-performance materials will be needed to help support the next generation of robotics, noted Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.
The humanoid market is about to experience a boom, with projections indicating a substantial and sustained increase over the next decade. The global market for humanoid robots was approximately $2.43 billion U.S. in 2023, but by 2032, it might grow to $66 billion, according to Fortune Business Insights.
Such projections highlight the growing presence of these two-legged machines across multiple industries, their rise fueled by advancements in automation and their ability to interact in a human-like manner.
Last year, global automaker BMW garnered attention by deploying a Figure 02 robot at its factory in Spartanburg, N.C., integrating the system into body construction and sheet metal processing. Standing approximately 1.7 m (5 ft., 7 in.) tall, the Figure AI humanoid reportedly demonstrated its potential in industrial settings.
Similarly, Amazon has experimented with Digit from Agility Robotics in U.S. warehouses, signaling growing interest across different sectors in evaluating their benefits for various business models.
Sealing solutions can support robotics growth
As humanoids grow in use, seals will play a key role in their operation, especially for built-in hydraulic or pneumatic actuators that serve as the robot’s “muscles” and initiate their movements.
Global sealing provider Freudenberg Sealing Technologies considers humanoid robots to be a young but not unfamiliar field. The company has experience in the development of made-to-order solutions for industrial robots such as collaborative robot arms, SCARA robots, delta robots, six-axis robots, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This results in a natural pathway to provide seals that satisfy humanoid design requirements, all the way to the finger joints.
The sealing technologies used in robot applications must be extremely robust, long-lasting, and made of low-friction materials to support long hours of operation and repetitive movements.
Solutions such as Ingress Protection Seals for Robots (ISPR) cover all these attributes, providing protection against harmful environmental influences such as dust or water, according to Freudenberg. Such seals can also perform well in very small installation spaces and can compensate for both axial and tangential displacements.
The company added that its IPSR seal is already being built into humanoids by a well-known international robot manufacturer.
Another sealing product potentially applicable to humanoid robots is the Premium Sine Seal (PSS). Thanks to its specific qualities, the seal can be used in motors and gearboxes of industrial robots. With its unique design, it seals reliably both externally and internally, preventing contamination.
Due to its low friction, the PSS ensures that less of a robot’s performance is lost over time and actively counteracts internal contamination in the sealing system, Freudenberg said.
In addition, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) wafer seals show friction reduction in robots. These disk seals made of high-performance PTFE plastic are water-repellent, can be used in an extremely wide range of temperatures, and are in demand in various industries.
Sealing materials used in robots such as cobots and humanoids must meet various challenges and requirements to ensure optimal performance and offer a long service life. Source: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies
Battery and thermal management materials
Miniaturized solutions are another trend for industry, including in humanoid robots, where power systems must be compact because batteries are often installed in the machine’ thorax region and need to be compact.
Not only are these batteries expected to be diminutive, but they also need to offer high performance. However, this often equals more heat generation, which is why the materials surrounding the batteries must be heat-resistant.
The right materials can address the challenge of thermal management in humanoid robots. One example is Freudenberg’s recently developed Quantix ULTRA thermoplastic, which can withstand temperatures as high as 1,200°C (2,192°F).
Existing uses for this material include electric-vehicle battery applications, as it meets the flame-retardant requirements for such environments. In addition, the material has been an option for the encasement of important electrically conductive rails known as busbars within electric powertrains.
As robotics and humanoid deployments scale, demand for such materials is also likely to grow.
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Freudenberg equips humanoids for demanding environments
Automation manufacturers are looking for seals with a damping effect that can also keep moisture out at the same time. Both are preconditions for the latest class of robots being developed to work in new applications.
Humanoids are not expected to work solely in factories and warehouses. Some people predict that they will find roles in caregiving and even outdoors in harsh weather and working conditions. That means the seals in the highly sensitive joints must be especially resistant to dirt and the penetration of moisture.
Looking further ahead, it is conceivable that humanoid robots could be used in hazardous environments, such as in mining operations, where the seals themselves and the materials they are made from will have to be extraordinarily robust and durable.
When it comes to boosting the potential of humanoids, it’s important to teach them quickly, which is still a tedious process. The team at Freudenberg believes that machine learning can be accelerated with the use of electromagnetic rubber compounds for muscular movement, neural signals, and even brainwave transmission.
Such compounds have already been applied in Asia for life-science applications. If they were applied to the hands of humanoids, they could relay haptic signals that could be processed for robot motion control.
As a result, developers can find that sealing experts can offer an alternative approach to robot learning and autonomy in addition to support for remote-controlled applications. This could be more intuitive and efficient than traditional programming and video shadowing. These are just some ideas of how companies with an extensive knowledge of materials could move in the direction of electromagnetic materials.
Freudenberg has already visited several humanoid makers and shared information on developing tailor-made materials and sealing product designs based on its in-depth R&D capabilities. Sealing experts are laying the foundation to expand humanoid robots’ range of applications while increasing their safety, longevity and range of functions.
About the author and Freudenberg
Hunter Cheng is the global segment manager for robotics at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. With a multi-cultural background and nearly a decade of focus on sealings for robotics, Cheng is now working with international colleagues to form a global group serving robotics makers around the world.
Automated systems are getting smaller and more efficient, and they must endure harsh environmental conditions such as high or low heat, plus harsh chemicals. To deliver productivity, reliability, and safety improvements, Freudenberg offers sealing systems for all types of robots.
Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg will exhibit at Booth 4839 at Automate in Detroit this week.
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