The changing demographic landscape is one of the key drivers behind the growth of the humanoid robot market. Many countries in Asia and the West are struggling to recruit workers in labor-intensive, low-skilled sectors. Most industrial robots, like fixed-arm devices used for welding, painting, and assembly, remain low-tech products. A technology company based in Zurich, Switzerland, named HEXAGON, is enhancing robot capabilities by leveraging advanced AI and hardware.

During a demonstration, Robert, the head of HEXAGON's robotics division, asked the humanoid robot Ian, “What can you show us?” Ian responded, “We can go up stairs, we can move quickly, we can pick up and place different items at the same time, and we can even scan doors for defects.”

Ian is equipped with a world-class combination of sensors—22 in total—alongside 12 cameras, demonstrating advanced mobility and AI-driven task control, enabling it to learn in real time and perform a variety of industrial applications. Heinzlich, the founder of HEXAGON's robotics division, explained, “Previously, we recorded our hand movements with a wearable device to train the AI neural network. We call this imitation learning, which essentially replicates human actions in the robot, allowing it to execute tasks automatically.”

According to Bank of America, with advancements in AI and hardware technology, the global annual shipment of humanoid robots is expected to reach 1 million units by 2030.