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A research team from Fraunhofer HNFIZ has published a newly developed evaluation model that classifies the technical capabilities of humanoids into five levels. Applications can also be classified based on the required robot capabilities. The model makes humanoids comparable, facilitates finding the right humanoid for a specific application, and highlights open issues in technology development.
Against the backdrop of a growing shortage of skilled workers and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, humanoid robots are increasingly coming into focus for industry and logistics. Companies are faced with the key question of when and for which tasks humanoid robots can be or will be deployed in a technically and economically viable manner. Many companies and research institutions are already testing initial systems, but until now, a comprehensive, comparable evaluation model has been lacking.
Transparency and Comparability for Humanoid Robots
This is where the Humanoid Capabilities Navigator, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA at its Heilbronn location, comes in; it was published in a recently released white paper. Fraunhofer IPA, with its “AI-based Robotics” Research and Innovation Center, is part of the Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers (HNFIZ) and, in this context, works on humanoids in addition to the topics of intelligent mobile manipulation and the flexible use of robotic hands.
The Humanoid Capabilities Navigator is broadly inspired by the five levels of automation in autonomous driving and evaluates humanoid robots based on four broad categories, which often encompass various technical capabilities and their stages of development:
- Mobility and locomotion (including, for example, localization and path planning)
- Manipulation (including, for example, force sensing and grasp planning)
- Cognition (including, for example, perception and task planning)
- Safety and Security
For each capability within a category, humanoids can be classified according to maturity levels ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (highly autonomous, comparable to humans or better). This enables, for the first time, a transparent, manufacturer-independent, and well-founded comparison of different humanoids and provides information on their suitability for specific applications.
Practical classification of real-world applications and robots
The publication illustrates the use of the Humanoid Capabilities Navigator in typical industrial applications such as truck loading and unloading, order picking, machine operation, and maintenance tasks. For each task, the respective technical maturity levels required in the four capability areas are highlighted. For example, truck loading places the highest demands on manipulation, cognition, and safety, whereas machine operation requires lower levels of capability because the process is more structured and thus requires less flexibility in task execution.
The automation division of Fraunhofer IPA tested the Humanoid Capabilities Navigator using a current humanoid robot, the G1 from Unitree Robotics. It was found that the current G1 version has already made considerable progress in sub-areas such as mobility. However, there is still a significant need for development to fully meet industrial requirements. The evaluation model makes these gaps transparent and provides targeted support for setting development priorities.
Setting the Course for Research, Development, and Market Forecasts
With the Humanoid Capabilities Navigator, Fraunhofer IPA offers industry a practical tool for realistically assessing the potential of humanoid robots, supporting investment decisions, and deriving targeted research and development measures. It also enables a reliable assessment of future market developments, as technological progress is systematically linked to specific application requirements.
The white paper is part of a series of publications that the institute has already released or will release in the first half of 2026. All of them focus on providing companies with comprehensive and reliable material to assess and evaluate the economic and technical feasibility of humanoid robots for their own use cases.
Simon Schmidt | simon.schmidt@ipa.fraunhofer.de | +49 172 5418428
https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/508946
https://German content:
https://interaktiv.ipa.fraunhofer.de/automatisierung-und-robotik/humanoide-robot... Article about humanoids
https://www.ipa.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ipa/Leitfaden_Wirtschaftlichkeit_final... Guide to Economic Viability
https://www.ipa.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ipa/Leitfaden_Safety_final.pdf Guide to Safe Applications
Many humanoids still need further development before they can be put to practical use.
Quelle: Rainer Bez
Copyright: Fraunhofer IPA
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Many humanoids still need further development before they can be put to practical use.
Quelle: Rainer Bez
Copyright: Fraunhofer IPA
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