Projected Shipments for 2027-30
By 2027, more than 10,000 humanoid robots will be shipped worldwide each year. By 2030, that number will grow to 38,000.
That’s according to Omdia, a global technology and research advisory group. In its latest Robotics Hardware Market Forecast, Omdia predicts an 83 percent compound annual growth rate between 2024 and 2030. 2024 is shaping up to be a seminal year for humanoid robotics.
Their rise is partly attributed to fascination with emerging AI technology that mimics human behavior. A growing array of companies is racing to deploy humanoid robots across industries and, eventually, within homes. Despite bold predictions, there are a lot of unknowns. In a press release, Omdia Chief Analyst Lian Jye Su said large-scale implementation is likely a few years away.
The rapid-fire pace of humanoid robotic advancements will make anyone’s head spin. To keep you up to date, here are the latest developments in humanoid robots, including an update on Tesla’s Optimus availability, Hong Kong’s ambitions, a bartending robot on the rise, a method for making robotic skin feel realistic, a throwback humanoid and more.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel to get the latest humanoid robotic updates first.
Tesla Delays Optimus Robot Rollout
Elon Musk has updated the anticipated timeline for Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot rollout. The AI robot is projected to be available for sale a year later than Musk previously indicated earlier this year.
On his X platform, Musk said Tesla will have “genuinely useful humanoid robots” in low production for internal use at Tesla factories in 2025. He said, hopefully, production for other companies will follow in 2026.
Hong Kong Backs AI Robot Startup
Backed by the Hong Kong government, a Beijing-based robotics startup is taking aim at global tech giants in the humanoid robot market.
Galbot, founded in May 2023, plans to use Hong Kong as a strategic hub to enter international markets with high labor costs, according to the South China Morning Post. The startup’s first humanoid robot, Galbot G1, was showcased at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai.
Galbot plans to introduce the robots to Hong Kong’s retail sector within the next two years. Wider deployment is targeted for within five years. The company has partnered with the Hong Kong Investment Corporation to establish the HK-Galbot Embodied AI Lab.
Researchers will use the artificial intelligence lab to explore humanoid robotic applications for retail and tourism. The lab will also offer training programs for teenagers on AI for removing humans from dangerous and tedious tasks.
Richtech Robotics ADAM Deployed
The first robot bartender in a big sports stadium is now working at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field. Richtech Robotics’ humanoid robot, ADAM, served about 500 drinks in its first week.
The Las Vegas-based company says ADAM is the first commercially deployable humanoid robot in the U.S. Fans can order drinks like Lemon Drops and Whiskey Sours. The company says ADAM makes work easier for stadium employees especially on busy game days. The robot is located near Section 111 of the stadium.
Richtech Robotics develops robots for customer service applications in places like hotels and hospitals.
According to reports, Richtech’s stock on NASDAQ rose after the deployment of ADAM in Ghost Kitchens International in Dawsonville, Georgia. It’s the first of 240 planned locations.
Thermoregulatory Integration
Scientists have developed a new way to make robotic hands with synthetic skin feel more like the real thing.
They created tiny fake blood vessels that circulate water to control temperature. The method makes robotic hands with synthetic skin feel cooler or warmer, simulating the human skin.
The Korean researchers detailed their findings in the paper, Thermoregulatory integration in hand prostheses and humanoid robots through blood vessel simulation, published in NPG Asia Materials. They note that service robots are gaining popularity thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence.
They say making robots more comfortable to touch can make them easier to interact with. The technology can also make prosthetics more comfortable.
The study was funded by the South Korean government through several National Research Foundation of Korea grants.