The promise of humanoid robots in everyday life is transitioning from speculative demos to early-stage deployment. That was the central message from two presentations at the Humanoids Summit in London, where Chaoyi Li of Booster Robotics and Werner Kraus of Germany’s Fraunhofer IPA discussed how humanoid robots are progressing toward real-world relevance in industry and society.
Chaoyi Li, Head of Globalization at Booster Robotics, traced recent advances in hardware affordability and AI integration. “Two years ago, a high-performance actuator cost over $2,000,” he noted. “Today, the same part can cost less than $500.” This drop in component costs is helping companies like Booster bring humanoid robots within reach of developers and researchers.
Equally important is the leap in AI capabilities. Li emphasized that breakthroughs in general-purpose AI are enabling humanoid robots to understand and execute complex, long-term tasks through natural language instructions. “This opens the door to home and industrial scenarios,” he said.
Booster Robotics, founded in 2023, focuses on building developer-ready humanoid platforms. Their robots, initially tested in RoboCup competitions, are now designed for broader environments such as labs, homes, and eventually commercial settings. Current efforts prioritize robustness, mobility (e.g., stair climbing, push recovery), and flexible software interfaces.
Developer Ecosystems as the Next Frontier
Li likened the current stage of humanoid robotics to the early days of personal computing or smartphones. “Back then, we had tools like Visual Studio and Android Studio. Now, we need equivalent environments for robotics,” he said. Booster is developing platforms with open APIs, simulation environments, and modular software layers to foster a broader ecosystem of robot developers.
He sees early adoption in education, research, and entertainment, but ultimately expects humanoid robots to enter sectors like retail, logistics, and elder care. Booster currently sells its robot platform for around $34,000, with a smaller model coming in at $30,000. The long-term goal is to push prices below $10,000 to enable consumer adoption.
Manipulation, often seen as a bottleneck, is viewed by Booster as an area ripe for third-party development. “We expect others to specialize in manipulation systems that can be integrated into our and other humanoid platforms,” said Li.
German Industry Eyes Logistics and Multi-Tasking
In contrast to Booster’s developer-first approach, Werner Kraus of the Fraunhofer Institute presented findings from a recent German industry survey on humanoid robot adoption. Speaking on behalf of the robotics and automation division at Fraunhofer IPA, Kraus outlined how large manufacturers — including Mercedes-Benz and BMW — view humanoid robots primarily as tools for logistics and machine tending.
“84% of surveyed companies are interested in humanoids for transporting goods, machine loading, or handling complex objects,” said Kraus. The majority want robots that can move autonomously between tasks, adapt to changing production needs, and require minimal reprogramming.
Interestingly, the form factor itself is under scrutiny. While the public may imagine legged robots, Kraus’s data shows that only 40% of companies demand bipedal locomotion. “Most care about upper-body intelligence — arms, sensors, and dexterous hands,” he explained. Wheels are acceptable to many, especially in factory environments.
Barriers: Safety, Cost, and Acceptance
Both speakers acknowledged that serious challenges remain. For Fraunhofer’s industrial contacts, unresolved safety standards top the list. There’s currently no clear regulatory framework for humanoid robots working alongside people on production floors. Acceptance by human coworkers also emerged as a concern. Some workers reportedly feel threatened by humanoids, echoing earlier resistance to cobots and service robots.
Economic feasibility is another key issue. Most companies are only willing to pay up to €100,000 if the robot can match at least 50% of a human worker’s productivity. “Humanoids need to show they can work efficiently and safely before large-scale deployment,” said Kraus.
Toward Broader Deployment
Both presenters see a near future where humanoid robots begin to fill real gaps — not by replacing human workers wholesale, but by complementing them in repetitive, physically taxing, or flexible multi-task roles. Booster’s vision focuses on accessible platforms for developers to accelerate experimentation and use-case exploration. Fraunhofer’s findings suggest a cautious but growing interest from traditional industry players, conditioned on regulation and ROI.
Li summed up the current moment: “We’re beyond the era of show demos. Now it’s about robust hardware, reliable software, and building the developer and industrial ecosystems needed to bring humanoid robots into everyday use.”
The consensus at the summit: humanoid robots are still in early deployment, but no longer a distant dream. Their integration into homes, research labs, and factory floors is beginning — one use case at a time.
