HUMANOIDS MEET INTRALOGISTICS

14.07.2025 | naise.eu

WHEN ROBOTS BECOME SMART WORKERS

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THE VISION: BETWEEN HYPE AND PURPOSE

Humanoid robots have become a lightning rod in automation discussions—hailed as the future of robotics by some and criticized by others as impractical showpieces. Their lifelike appearance and interactive potential spark both fascination and doubt. Critics argue they are overengineered for simple tasks, while supporters see them as the missing link in creating more adaptable, human-centric automation environments.

But the industry momentum tells its own story. Gartner predicts that by 2027, 10% of new intralogistics smart robots sold will be humanoid working robots. These AI-enabled machines won’t compete with AGVs or AMRs; rather, they’ll complement them by stepping into roles where human-like mobility and interaction are beneficial: navigating complex layouts, assisting workers, and bridging the physical-digital gap.

At NAiSE, we don’t see humanoid robots as futuristic novelties; we see them as an additional tool within a connected, flexible intralogistics system. Their real value emerges in tasks where automation is still limited, especially in high-risk environments that require human-like mobility or awareness. Instead of exposing workers to potentially dangerous situations, such as inspections in high-traffic areas, emergency checks, or physical interaction with machines, a humanoid can step in and perform these tasks safely and efficiently.

But humanoids only bring value when they are part of the same operational logic as everything else. That’s why we integrated a radar-enhanced humanoid robot into the NAiSE Intralogistics Platform—not as a standalone feature, but as a fully compatible participant within the same ecosystem that manages AGVs, AMRs, forklifts, and human workers. For us, the question isn’t whether humanoids belong in intralogistics—it’s how we make them compatible and useful from day one.

RADAR-ENHANCED HUMANOID ENTERS THE FLOW

This vision comes to life with our integration of a radar-enhanced humanoid robot developed in collaboration with Waveye.

We took this upgraded humanoid robot, equipped with Waveye’s radar system, and fully integrated it into the NAiSE Intralogistics Platform, right alongside other key elements of the intralogistics environment: transport mobile robots, manually driven vehicles, and human workers.

The result is a humanoid that doesn’t just walk the floor, it participates in a coordinated system, aware of its surroundings and responsive to the real-time logic of the production plant. Tasks that might seem simple, like stopping at a traffic light or reacting to a vehicle crossing its path, now become moments of intelligent collaboration, governed by software, not chance.

This kind of integration enables a range of future scenarios: from humanoids assisting in manual picking tasks, to mobile inspections in difficult-to-access areas, or even helping manage physical tools in areas not suitable for wheeled transport. The versatility of the humanoid becomes useful only when tied into an environment that makes it spatially aware and collaborative.

NAISE INTRALOGISTICS PLATFORM: MAKING SYNERGY OPERATIONAL

What transforms this humanoid from an isolated robot into a smart worker is the NAiSE Intralogistics Platform, our software that digitizes, localizes, and orchestrates every moving part in a factory.

By integrating the radar-enhanced humanoid into NAiSE’s solution, we ensure it behaves as any other automated entity on the shop floor:

  • – RTLS Integration: The humanoid’s position is constantly tracked using real-time localization. This makes it visible not just on the map, but to other robots and vehicles navigating the same environment.
  • – Digital Twin Representation: On our interface, the humanoid is visualized just like any other trackable, ensuring that operators and systems alike have a shared understanding of its position and behavior.
  • – Cross-Agent Recognition: Other vehicles, including AGVs, AMRs and forklifts, recognize the humanoid as a dynamic object. This means route planning and traffic flow automatically adjust when the humanoid is nearby, enhancing efficiency and operational continuity.
  • – Scenario Awareness: Our scenario triggers allow contextual responses—pausing movement in specific areas, rerouting during congestion, or activating alerts when needed. The humanoid, thanks to the Waveye radar and NAiSE’s logic layer, acts in sync with these rules.

This isn’t about robots operating in isolation. It’s about every element—automated, manual, or humanoid, speaking the same digital language to create a smarter, more responsive intralogistics environment.

LIVE DEMONSTRATION: FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY

This integration was recently showcased at ARENA2036, where the radar-enhanced humanoid moved within a digitally governed environment powered by NAiSE. It wasn’t just a demonstration of robotic mobility: it was a live example of intelligent, rule-based interaction.

The humanoid stopped at digital traffic signals, responded to scenario triggers, and adjusted its path in real time—behaviors made possible not by pre-programmed scripts, but by full integration into a platform designed for system-wide orchestration.

Looking forward, we’re preparing additional demos where humanoids will actively participate in workflows: carrying tools, guiding visitors, or working alongside forklifts and tuggers; all under the same system logic and spatial intelligence provided by NAiSE.

FROM HYPE TO SYSTEM RELEVANCE

Humanoids aren’t here to replace every specialized machine or every human worker. And that’s not their purpose. Their advantage lies in their ability to move like a person, adapt like a tool, and operate within systems built for human-scale tasks.

But to have true value in intralogistics, they must be part of the bigger picture. The NAiSE Platform ensures they are. With radar-enhanced awareness from Waveye and system-wide logic from NAiSE, the humanoid becomes more than a symbol of innovation—it becomes a functional part of a smarter and more responsive factory.

The debate about humanoids is no longer just theoretical. At NAiSE, we’re not asking whether they fit—we’re showing how they do.