How Will Humanoids Fit into Robot-Driven Manufacturing

Recently I had the chance to sit down with Jack Hallewell from Humanoid Robotics Technology to talk about the role we see humanoids playing in manufacturing.

At Flexxbotics, we’ve been exploring the role humanoids will play in factories, fabs, labs, and other production environments – and how our capabilities make that vision real.

During our conversation, I explained why our focus is on robot-driven manufacturing at scale and how that connects to humanoids. 

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 equipment for lights out production.

The Need for Context and Coordination

For humanoids 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: they’ll send updates back to keep systems of record current.
• Across the factory floor: they’ll communicate directly with machines and existing assets to adjust their actions in real time.

Autonomy Requires Bi-Directional Communication

Humanoids 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.

FlexxCORE™ as the Enabler

This is where FlexxCORE™, the technology at the center of our robotic production software, comes in. It provides secure connectivity and coordination between robots, existing factory equipment, IT systems, and people. Today, FlexxCORE™ supports real-time read/write communication with over 1,000 different makes and models of capital equipment. 

We believe that this level of interoperable communication and orchestration will be critical to the successful introduction of humanoids into factories for measurable results.

Closing the Loop

With closed-loop communication, robots – including humanoids – move beyond isolated automation. They can operate autonomously running production processes with a level of contextual decision-making awareness and interaction once possible only by people.

That’s the future we’re building at Flexxbotics: a connected, autonomous, robot-driven smart factory environment where humanoids play an integral part of the symphony of automation.