Siemens and Humanoid Test HMND 01 Alpha Humanoid Robot in Logistics

A mobile manipulator from Humanoid retrieves a tote from a conveyor belt. Source: Siemens

Siemens AG and Humanoid announced the successful testing of the HMND 01 Alpha wheeled humanoid robot at Siemens' electronics factory in Erlangen, Germany. Leveraging Siemens' strategic partnership with NVIDIA, the robot autonomously carried out logistics operations.

“Our goal is to develop humanoid robots that operate effectively in real factory settings, not just controlled labs, and handle significant industrial work,” said Artem Sokolov, founder and CEO of Humanoid. “Partnering with Siemens and NVIDIA provides a key advantage, merging NVIDIA's leading AI infrastructure and simulation tools with Siemens' deep industrial knowledge and integration expertise.”

Founded in 2024, Humanoid designed the HMND specifically for industrial use. The robot integrates an omnidirectional wheeled base with advanced manipulation, powered by the proprietary KinetIQ AI framework. The London-based company states its mobile manipulator can operate in human-centered spaces, adapt to various tasks, and manage complex actions.

Siemens partners to bring AI to manufacturing

Siemens and Humanoid initially revealed their proof of concept in January. Furthermore, strategic partners Siemens and NVIDIA announced at CES their intention “to create the world's first fully AI-driven, adaptive manufacturing facilities.”

“Physical AI — the field of training intelligent machines to perceive, reason, and act in the real world — is set to revolutionize manufacturing,” Siemens stated. “Closing the gap between AI research and actual factory needs demands a high-performance ecosystem: top-tier AI computing and simulation, a proven robotics platform, and deep industrial automation infrastructure to connect everything.”

Humanoid has incorporated NVIDIA's complete physical AI stack into the HMND 01 platform. This includes NVIDIA Jetson Thor for edge computing, NVIDIA Isaac Sim for simulation, and NVIDIA Isaac Lab for reinforcement learning and policy training.

“Future factories require robots that can perceive, reason, and adapt autonomously alongside people, addressing labor shortages and operational complexities that challenge traditional automation,” said Deepu Talla, vice president of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA. “With Siemens providing the industrial integration foundation and Humanoid deploying NVIDIA's full physical AI stack — from simulation-first training to real-time edge inference — this deployment marks a step toward humanoid robots achieving real production goals on active factory floors.”

Editor’s note: The 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo next month in Boston will feature sessions on embodied and physical AI, as well as humanoid robot development. Register now to attend.

Humanoid touts fast deployment

Humanoid claims its “simulation-first hardware design allowed the team to virtually optimize actuator selection, joint strength, and mass distribution, reducing prototype development from a typical 18-24 months to just seven months.”

The HMND 01 Alpha was deployed in Siemens' logistics operations, where it autonomously picked, transported, and placed containers for human operators. The company reported meeting all target performance metrics, including a throughput of 60 tote moves per hour, uptime exceeding eight hours, and autonomous pick-and-place success rates over 90%.

Siemens also emphasized that for a humanoid robot to be valuable, it must be fully integrated with other production systems, exchanging data in real time with automated guided vehicles (AGVs), other machinery, and human workers. New systems must also dynamically respond to changing conditions, the company added.

The Munich-based electronics supplier stated that its Siemens Xcelerator platform provides this integration layer, offering a comprehensive digital twin, AI-enabled perception, integrated control, and PLC-robot interfaces. It also delivers fleet management, industrial communication networks, and high-performance drives.

“Together, these technologies form the digital backbone and automation infrastructure that ensure humanoid robots operate efficiently and in harmony with the broader factory environment,” Siemens explained. “The result is a factory-grade model for deploying humanoids in any industrial setting.”

Siemens will showcase and discuss its approach to industrial AI next week at Hannover Messe.