Robotics companies in 2026 sell proven factory and logistics robots alongside humanoids, human-shaped machines still proving daily work. Buyers should match each task to demonstrated capability, demand cell-level safety proof, and clear deployment approvals before signing. This guide separates systems that run at scale from pilots that need close supervision. It gives facts and focused questions for capability, safety, and deployment decisions.
Table of Contents
- What runs at scale today?
- What should you ask humanoid suppliers?
- How do you check safety for the full cell?
- Which approvals control deployment?
- How do you compare bids on evidence?
What runs at scale today?
The International Federation of Robotics reports factories ran a record 5 million industrial robots in 2025 in the IFR factory report. The same source says annual installations rose 11% to over 600,000 units, with China installing 354,000 units for 59% of demand. Standard arms, welding cells, and palletizing lines therefore carry the deepest base of parts, integrators, and service routines.
The International Federation of Robotics also reports professional service-robot shipments rose 24% to almost 250,000 units in 2025. Transport and logistics robots led with 117,500 units. Only about 7,000 full-size humanoids over 140 cm sold, and most remained specialized pilots often needing teleoperation.
What should you ask humanoid suppliers?
Agility Robotics says Digit 5, unveiled Sept. 15, 2026, adds human detection with avoid, stop, and seat responses in the Agility Digit 5 announcement. The company describes it as its first cooperatively safe humanoid for barrier-free work near people. It follows 65,000-plus Digit 4 hours at Amazon, GXO, Schaeffler, and Toyota Canada, with added motion-intent cues.
Figure reports Figure 02 worked daily 10-hour shifts for 11 months at BMW Plant Spartanburg. It logged 1,250-plus hours and loaded 90,000-plus parts, contributing to 30,000-plus X3 vehicles. Figure 03 arrived June 30, 2026 in Hall 52 to tackle sequencing, ordered part delivery, with Helix 02 for combined walking and handling. Boston Dynamics says its production-ready electric Atlas had all 2026 deployments committed in January 2026. The company says fleets were scheduled to Hyundai's Robotics Metaplant Application Center and Google DeepMind for field testing on real sequencing tasks.
- Ask for supervised versus unsupervised hours, parts per shift, and failure recovery steps.
- Ask what sensors trigger avoid, stop, or seat behavior near people.
- Ask what site changes, staffing, and integration work each pilot required.
How do you check safety for the full cell?
The International Organization for Standardization pairs ISO 10218-1:2025 for robots with ISO 10218-2:2025 for applications and cells, fenced work areas. Buyers must verify risk assessment, a structured check for task harm, plus guarding, speed and force limits, and integration safety. The arm alone does not make a cell compliant.
The Association for Advancing Automation centers U.S. practice on task-based risk assessment covering commissioning, teaching, maintenance, and normal operation. Its 2026 industry guidance highlights ANSI/RIA R15.06-2025, ISO 10218, functional safety, controls that fail safely, and OSHA's perspective. It also raises new questions for humanoids working near people.
- Missing risk file for teaching and maintenance tasks.
- No documented speed, force, or guarding checks for the full cell.
- No plan for supervision, stop behavior, or restart after a fault.
Which approvals control deployment?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allowed Zoox to deploy up to 2,500 steering-wheel-free robotaxis, driverless taxis, per year for two years. The agency ties the move to enhanced adaptable oversight, which caps scale and makes the federal exemption the key U.S. buying question. The European Commission states AI Act high-risk rules apply from Dec.
2, 2027 for standalone uses in the Commission guidance on high-risk systems. Rules for AI embedded in regulated products such as robotics and machinery apply from Aug. 2, 2028. EU deployers must therefore ask vendors now for conformity, logging, transparency, and human-oversight plans.
- Ask for exemption, permit, or conformity route in writing.
- Ask who holds operating risk and logging duties.
- Ask what limits trigger shutdown, review, or reapproval.
How do you compare bids on evidence?
Place factory tasks with suppliers that show repeat hours, spare parts, and local service. Place exploration tasks in short pilots with clear pass marks for throughput, uptime, and supervision load.
Require the same evidence pack from each bidder: task hours, fault logs, safety file, and approval path. Reject any bid that substitutes a robot-only certificate for cell safety or live permits.
You Might Also Like
- Simulation Digital Twins Robotics 2026 Guide: capabilities, safety, and deployment; Key Facts and Questions to Ask
- Research Robotics 2026 Guide: capabilities, safety, and deployment; Key Facts and Questions to Ask
- Programming Robotics 2026 Guide: capabilities, safety, and deployment; Key Facts and Questions to Ask
