Humanoids need coordination to perform multiple operations alongside other machines and people, writes Tyler Bouchard. Image source: Graphic Resources, via Adobe Stock
As we all watch the rapid advancement of humanoids, there are more questions than answers about the role these robots might play in manufacturing.
How will this technology fit into industrial factories, semiconductor fabs, pharmaceutical labs, and other production environments? How will they know what to do and when? What capabilities will be required to make them work seamlessly and productively with existing equipment?
Personally, I’m most interested in how humanoids will be coordinated and orchestrated across the smart factory since my company focuses on robot-driven manufacturing at scale.
We don’t see robotics as just automating single tasks or steps. Instead, we envision humanoids performing multiple operations, working autonomously in concert alongside other types of robots and plant assets for lights-out production.
Humanoids need context and coordination
For humanoids and multipurpose robots to achieve true autonomy, they must operate with context. That requires the ability to “talk” to other robots, machines, and IT business systems throughout the plant.
- From business systems: Humanoids will need to take instructions on what products to build, which processes to run, and the work that needs to occur.
- To business systems: Robots must also send updates back to keep systems of record current.
- Across the factory floor: These systems should communicate directly with machines and existing assets to adjust their actions in real time.
Editor’s note: A session track will focus on humanoids at RoboBusiness 2025 this week in Santa Clara, Calif., along with tracks on physical AI, enabling technologies, design and development, business, and field robotics. Register now to attend.
Autonomy requires bi-directional communication
Humanoid robots won’t just follow static instructions. To manage complex processes, they’ll need to:
- Receive operational feedback and adjust based on operating conditions
- Update and modify processing instructions while executing tasks
- Exercise bi-directional read/write control with equipment without human intervention
Humanoids will likely need robotic production software to securely connect and communicate with the existing factory equipment, robots, systems, and people. Real-time read/write capabilities with many different makes and models of capital equipment are essential for fully autonomous operation.
We believe that this level of interoperable communication and orchestration will be critical to successfully scale humanoids in factories with measurable results.
Close the loop for humanoids
With closed-loop communication, humanoids will move beyond isolated automation. They’ll running production processes autonomously with a level of contextual decision-making awareness and interaction once possible only with people.
From my perspective, if we are unable to achieve connected autonomy with humanoids, we will never realize the promise of robot-driven manufacturing.
About the author
Tyler Bouchard is co-founder and CEO of Flexxbotics, a provider of digitalization solutions for robot-driven manufacturing. Prior to starting Flexxbotics, he held senior commercial positions in industrial automation and robotics at Fortune 500 organizations including Cognex, Mitsubishi Electric, and Novanta.
Bouchard holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and attended the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.
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