Humanoid Robots: High Costs and Hardware Challenges

Nvidia's vision of the next AI wave as 'physical AI' has sparked significant interest in humanoid robots, but high costs and hardware challenges are limiting their market share. According to a report by DIGITIMES, humanoid robots are expected to account for only 0.2% of the global robotics market in 2025, with their use primarily in logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing.

The report highlights that while AI models have accelerated the development of humanoid robots by reducing trial-and-error costs and improving perception and decision-making functions, the transition from virtual prototypes to physical machines remains difficult. Key challenges include achieving bipedal balance and grip calibration, which are costly to solve and do not guarantee reliable performance.

The high cost of components such as advanced perception chips, sensors, and specialized motors keeps humanoid robots priced between $50,000 and $400,000 each, compared to less than $30,000 for industrial robots of similar size. Without economies of scale, these prices remain prohibitive for broader service and household markets.

DIGITIMES ASIA identifies three factors that will shape the future of humanoid robots: AI progress, hardware costs, and safety standards. While AI improvements are expected to enhance performance over the next three to five years, high costs will likely confine deployment to industrial uses. Broader adoption in service sectors may occur in five to ten years, contingent on cheaper hardware and mature AI, with mass household entry anticipated only when these factors align with stringent safety standards.