# The State of Humanoids: Where is the market headed?

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2025-08-08
- Length: 1h 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed

## Summary

Pras Velagapudi, CTO of Agility Robotics, Aaron Prather of ASTM International, and Al Makke of Schaeffler discuss the current state of humanoid robotics, focusing on safety standards, commercial deployments, and component scaling. The hosts, Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman, cover recent leadership changes at Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics, as well as the financial struggles of iRobot. The panel highlights the critical need for stability testing, the evolution of AI-driven control stacks, and the path toward cost-effective mass production.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [3:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=200) Leadership Changes at Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics
- [12:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=748) iRobot's Financial Decline and Failed Amazon Acquisition
- [26:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=1596) Panel Introduction: State of Humanoids
- [31:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=1893) ASTM Safety Standards and Stability Testing
- [40:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=2408) Agility Robotics: Commercial Deployments and AI Milestones
- [48:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=2915) Schaeffler: Component Scaling and Cost Targets
- [58:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed#t=3524) Regulatory Landscape and Customer Validation

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Agility Robotics (company)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- iRobot (company)
- ASTM International (company)
- Schaeffler (company)
- Digit (product)
- GXO (company)
- Spanx (company)
- Hello Robot (product)
- Nvidia (company)
- Amazon (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [191: The State of Robotics: Live From the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-06-25-191-the-state-of-robotics-live-from-the-2024-robotics-summit-expo-in-boston-ma) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The State of Robotics in 2025: Live from the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-08-05-the-state-of-robotics-in-2025-live-from-the-robotics-summit-expo-in-boston-ma) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Ep. 11: What’s Next for Humanoids? Lessons from Tokyo | The Robo Success Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robo-success-podcast/2026-06-23-ep-11-whats-next-for-humanoids-lessons-from-tokyo-the-robo-success-podcast) (The Robo Success Podcast)
- [203: Humanoid Robots: Industrial Applications, Safety, and Going Beyond the Hype to Solve Real Problems Featuring Agility Robotics' Melonee Wise](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [264: Inside Automated: Asking the Right Questions about Robotics and AI with Brian Heater, Managing Editor at A3 and Host of the Automated Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-12-02-264-inside-automated-asking-the-right-questions-about-robotics-and-ai-with-brian) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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