Humanoid robots at work: pilots and deployments
HumanoidBeat coverage of humanoid robots being trialled or used in factories, shops and warehouses, and of companies' delivery targets. Newest first; each story links to its sources.
- AGCO plans a Digit humanoid pilot at its Hesston, Kansas, factory from 2027
Farm-machinery maker AGCO and Agility Robotics say they have signed a commercial agreement to pilot the Digit humanoid at AGCO's Hesston, Kansas, plant, starting in 2027. - Chinese humanoid makers seek factory and cafe trials in South Korea
UBTech, Anyverse Dynamics and other Chinese firms are pursuing trials in South Korea as Seoul proposes 3.1 trillion won for physical AI, Korea Times reports. - Tesla targets end of 2027 for external Optimus deliveries, Musk says
Elon Musk said on Tesla's Q3 2026 earnings call that Tesla expects to start delivering Optimus robots to outside customers around the end of 2027, according to Electrek. - Danish grocer Føtex pilots Unitree humanoids for overnight restocking
Føtex, part of Salling Group, has started a multi-year pilot with HIVE Robots to train humanoid robots to restock shelves after closing time, ESM Magazine reports. - Schaeffler opens Taicang factory where humanoids help build parts for humanoids
Schaeffler says its new Taicang, China factory uses six humanoids to assemble joint modules, including actuators, for other humanoid robots. - South Korea grants safety-rule exemption for 20 Robros humanoids in factory pilot
A Korean regulatory-sandbox committee granted Robros an exemption so 20 of its humanoid robots can work near people at four companies' sites, Seoul Economic Daily reports.