On May 18, 2026, the second part of the Cluster Mobility & Logistics’ “Transforming Transport” 2026 webinar series took place. The focus was on a question that is currently a major concern for the logistics industry: What can logistics robots—and humanoids in particular—actually accomplish today, beyond marketing videos and trade show appearances? Speaker Dr. Oliver Zuchowski, an expert in logistics automation with over 15 years of experience and co-host of the podcast “Automation Awakenings”, took a close look at the so-called “humanoid hype.”
After a historical review of the development of mobile robotics since the 1950s, Dr. Zuchowski demonstrated that many of the humanoid systems prominently promoted today—including Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Tesla’s Optimus, and NEURA Robotics’ 4NE-1—have, at best, reached the status of pilot projects or early experiments. What product videos show are often “orchestrated choreographies” under optimized conditions—not true autonomy in day-to-day operations.
In contrast stands the reality of proven systems: automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are now in operation by the thousands in industrial settings—for pallet transport, milk runs, and production supply, with an ROI of 0.5 to 2 years. Autonomous high-lift trucks and reach trucks offer great potential but require standardized processes, stable infrastructure, and defined environments.
His key conclusion: “Navigation is often not the problem today. Rather, it is the variability of reality.” Robotics scales best where processes are standardized. Humanoids should nevertheless not be underestimated—for now, however, Zuchowski recommended relying on proven, scalable solutions and approaching the hype with healthy pragmatism.
The subsequent panel discussion gave participants the opportunity to ask specific questions.
NOTE
The event was part of the German government’s Transformation Networks (funding body: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, BMWE). The Regensburg-based project transform.r supports companies in navigating structural change in the automotive industry.