At the European Robotic Forum in Stuttgart, representatives of KUKA Research said: “We are not working on humanoid robots”.
May I ask why???
PERSONAL OPINION: KUKA should work on a humanoid robots. Even if it is not the best format, the hype is so high that at least should be on the table at R&D level, for KUKA, for Europe, for the sake of innovation. Money is pumped into this area in USA and China.
There was a plenary session where leading European robotics researcher leaders discussed how Europe is lagging behind in innovation. They’ve already realized this issue. They’re also beginning to understand that it’s not healthy to fund everything from EU sources, as in America, large corporations should drive this innovation. An American investor sitting in the audience emphasized that it seems European companies are afraid to make mistakes and innovate. Afraid of failure. He stressed that large companies should be incentivized to innovate more.
European robotics and technology sectors are facing significant challenges compared to their global competitors. The European robotics market, valued at approximately €13.5 billion, represents 25% of the global market, but Europe is struggling to maintain its competitive edge. Despite having strong research capabilities, Europe faces difficulties in translating research into commercial success.
Why KUKA (and similar big companies) should invest in humanoids? 🏁 Technological leadership: Developing humanoid robots could help KUKA and Europe maintain their competitive edge in robotics and artificial intelligence. This would ensure they remain at the forefront of technological innovation. 📈 Expanding market opportunities: Humanoid robots have potential applications in various sectors, including healthcare, space exploration, and disaster response. By entering this market, KUKA could diversify its product portfolio and tap into new revenue streams. 👷 Addressing labor shortages: Europe, like many regions, faces challenges with an aging workforce and skilled labor shortages. Humanoid robots could potentially fill gaps in industries where human-like capabilities are beneficial. 👫 Enhancing human-robot collaboration: KUKA’s expertise in human-robot collaboration could be leveraged to develop more advanced and intuitive humanoid robots, further improving workplace efficiency and safety.
I actually asked them “why”, and got a “maybe later”… But image is still obviously generated…