Humanoid robots are advancing quickly, fueled by AI breakthroughs and major investment. The 2025 Humanoid Robot Forum presented by A3 brought industry leaders, developers, researchers, and investors to Seattle to explore some of the unique challenges and opportunities presented by these advanced robot systems. FORT was pleased to sponsor and attend the event; here are some of our key takeaways from the day’s sessions and conversations.
The rise of humanoid robots presents a fascinating and complex landscape, ripe with both immense potential and significant challenges. As a society, we are still trying to define what a "humanoid" robot truly is– but regardless of the formal definition, it’s clear that there is no shortage of companies working to deploy them. This open-endedness leaves the field wide open for groundbreaking innovation. The uncharted territory stirs excitement amongst some, but also creates trepidation and anxiety for those with concerns about the technology.
The average person may not have any real life experience with robotics, and might grapple with the uncertainties about the future these advanced machines bring. Safety, in particular, is a common concern: how can we ensure protection in environments where humans and humanoids work side by side? Strategies for safe operation was a key theme that emerged in many sessions.
The development of a new ISO standard is in the works, specifically for robots exhibiting “Dynamic Stability”, which is a critical area of focus for humanoids. The proposed ISO 25785-1 aims to close safety gaps for mobile robots with actively controlled stability, including legged robots and advanced AMRs. Members of this work group include Kevin Reese, Distinguished Robotics Safety Engineer at Agility Robotics, Carole Franklin, Director of Robotics Standards Development at A3, and Federico Vicentini, Head of Safety at Boston Dynamics.
While discussing the importance of voluntary standards such as ISO, Vicentini emphasized that safety standards are simply "predefined risk assessments with requirements" to help companies, designers and developers address the unique challenges posed by these machines. Unlike traditional industrial robots, dynamically stable systems introduce new problems to consider and change how we consider them.
Andrea Thomaz, CEO of Diligent Robotics, highlighted the critical importance of thoughtfully introducing these bots into society and actively working to make humans more comfortable with their deployment. Managing the intricate dance between humans and robots is far from a cut-and-dry study. It is a field brimming with nuance, deeply rooted in behavioral psychology, and influenced by unwritten "rules of life" that humans unconsciously follow.
Anticipating the social norms a bot might encounter is incredibly important for its successful integration. This means programming robots to understand and adhere to subtle behavioral aspects that foster trust and predictability. Diligent's hospital-deployed robot, Moxi, has illustrated this beautifully: simple yet powerful actions like yielding in a hallway for a patient or a bed being rolled by, or even subtly foreshadowing their next move through a head turn or other visual cues. This predictability is vitally important, as people often don't inherently "trust" robots and are unsure what to expect from them. By demonstrating intent and adhering to social etiquette, humanoids can bridge this gap and build confidence.
Moxi has been warmly received by staff in the hospitals where she’s been deployed. The nursing field is facing a labor shortage, in part due to high burnout rates. Moxi has eased the burden of nurses by tackling manual tasks, such as transporting medicines between floors. This has freed up nurses to focus on the tasks that require their unique skills: providing medical and emotional care to their patients. Moxi’s successful deployment is a testament to the power of human-robot collaboration, providing value to human workers, businesses, and the customers they serve.
Agility Robotics and Apptronik, two prominent developers of bipedal humanoids, agree that mobile manipulation tasks are best performed by bipedal humanoid robots. They envision a future where these robots augment, rather than replace, human labor, particularly in industries facing undeniable labor shortages. The focus, they emphasize, should be on leveraging robots to bridge the gap in existing automation efforts.
Both companies also advocate for deployments in "standardized" environments – industries where structured work processes and existing machinery are already commonplace. This includes sectors like logistics and manufacturing, where the presence of robots is not viewed as uncommon, "scary," or out of place. Conversely, industries such as retail, construction, and grocery stores, which often involve less structured environments and more unpredictable human interaction, are considered less suitable for initial widespread humanoid deployment.
Though several companies are striving towards the same mission- to develop general-purpose robots with human-like capabilities- a variety of form factors are being embraced in pursuit of this mission. Many companies, including Agility Robotics and Apptronik, have looked to the human body for inspiration. Their two-armed, two-legged (bipedal) robots showcase skills such as walking, bending, reaching, grabbing, and manipulating objects. In contrast, Cobot, led by former VP of Robotics at Amazon, Brad Porter, is taking a different approach. Cobot is rejecting the notion that human-capable robots must look like humans. Bipeds are dynamically stable, which poses unique safety challenges that the in-work ISO 25785-1 standard is working to address. Cobot’s Proxie, on the other hand, sits on a four-wheel base rather than two legs, with its center of mass lower to the ground than most biped humanoids. It remains to be seen whether the industry converges on an optimal approach to realizing human-like capabilities, or if the divergent solutions are each here to stay.
Despite their differences, company leaders expressed some common sentiments throughout the forum. Several highlighted the importance of operating robots in real-world environments early. Exposing robots to diverse, real-world environments provides the opportunity to identify edge cases and retrain models to handle them safely and successfully. Additionally, multiple speakers agreed on a crucial point: safety is a critical obstacle to consider when scaling humanoid robot adoption. Overcoming this challenge through rigorous development, comprehensive safety standards, and thoughtful social integration will be key to unlocking the full potential of these transformative machines.
To learn more about FORT safety solutions for humanoids and other advanced robot systems, get in touch below.