Measurement technology company Hexagon has unveiled AEON, an industrial humanoid robot designed to address the labour crisis affecting manufacturing and logistics sectors.
The robot uses NVIDIA’s AI and robotics platform to deliver, according to the company, a “state-of-the-art, industrially bespoke humanoid” capable of performing complex tasks in multiple industries.
Addressing 50 million unfilled positions
The timing of AEON’s launch comps as the global labour shortage leaves 50 million positions unfilled in industries like manufacturing and logistics, the company says.
Hexagon’s industrial humanoid robot represents a potential technological solution to what has become a challenge for companies worldwide, particularly in sectors requiring skilled workers for precision tasks.
“Hexagon’s legacy in precision measurement and sensor technologies has always been about enabling next-generation autonomy.” said Ola Rollén, Chairman of the Board at Hexagon. He claims Hexagon to be “one of the best-placed companies in the world to lead and shape the field of humanoid robotics.”
Technical capabilities and Nvidia partnership
AEON’s development heavily relies on NVIDIA’s three-computer robotics platform, using AI supercomputers for training, the NVIDIA Omniverse platform for simulation testing, and NVIDIA IGX Thor robotic computers.
The technological foundation lets the industrial humanoid robot perform tasks from reality capture and digital twin creation, to precision manipulation and part inspection.
“The age of general-purpose robotics has arrived, due to technological advances in simulation and physical AI,” said Deepu Talla, vice president of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA.
The robot’s capabilities cover four areas: precision measurement technologies, awareness via multimodal sensor fusion, versatility, and power autonomy through a battery-swapping mechanism that helps reduce downtime for recharging.
Accelerated development through simulation
One of the most notable aspects of AEON’s development is the accelerated training timeline achieved through simulation. The simulation-first approach enabled Hexagon to fast-track its robotic development, allowing AEON to learn core locomotion skills in two to three weeks – rather than five to six months – before deployment.
The industrial humanoid robot uses NVIDIA Isaac Sim for action simulation and NVIDIA Isaac Lab for reinforcement learning
Industry partnerships and pilot programmes
Hexagon has secured partnerships with industrial companies Schaeffler and Pilatus for pilot programmes. The collaborations will test AEON in manipulation, machine tending, part inspection, and reality capture applications in production environments.
The Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus sees the industrial humanoid robot as “a contributing solution in sustaining our competitiveness in more than ever tougher global markets.”
Market positioning and commercial timeline
“With AEON, we’re advancing physical AI to tackle real operational challenges,” said Arnaud Robert, President of Hexagon’s Robotics division. The company plans to deploy the industrial humanoid robot in production environments over the next six months before expanding commercial availability.
AEON’s focus on industrial applications distinguishes it from consumer-oriented humanoid robots, targeting specific sectors including automotive, aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.
The robot’s ability to create digital twins through reality capture could prove particularly valuable for companies seeking to digitise their operations.
Critical considerations
While AEON represents technological advancement, questions remain about the practical implementation challenges, cost-effectiveness compared to traditional automation solutions, and the broader implications for human employment in industrial settings.
The success of pilot programmes with Schaeffler and Pilatus will likely provide insights into the viability of humanoid robots in industrial environments. The industrial humanoid robot market remains in its early stages, with AEON joining a growing field of competitors seeking to commercialise general-purpose robotic solutions.
The test will be whether the machines can deliver sufficient return on investment to justify their adoption and navigate the dynamics of human-robot collaboration in workplaces.
Photo by Nvidia)
See also: NVIDIA supercharges the development of humanoid robots with AI
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