Measurement technology giant Hexagon has unveiled AEON, an advanced industrial humanoid robot designed to address the mounting global labour crisis affecting manufacturing and logistics sectors.
The robot leverages NVIDIA’s comprehensive AI and robotics platform to deliver, according to the company, a “state-of-the-art, industrially bespoke humanoid” capable of performing complex tasks across multiple industries.
Addressing 50 million unfilled positions
The timing of AEON’s launch appears strategic, as the global labour shortage leaves 50 million positions unfilled across industries like manufacturing and logistics.
Hexagon’s industrial humanoid robot represents a potential technological solution to what has become a critical 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. For the past 10 years, we’ve been working on robotics innovation across our divisions,” 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, utilizing AI supercomputers for training, the NVIDIA Omniverse platform for simulation testing, and NVIDIA IGX Thor robotic computers for real-time operations.
This comprehensive technological foundation enables the industrial humanoid robot to perform tasks ranging 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. “Hexagon’s new AEON humanoid embodies the integration of NVIDIA’s three-computer robotics platform and is making a significant leap forward in addressing industry-critical challenges.”
The robot’s capabilities include four key areas: agility through precision measurement technologies, awareness via multimodal sensor fusion, versatility across various industrial tasks, and power autonomy through a unique battery-swapping mechanism that eliminates 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. This simulation-first approach enabled Hexagon to fast-track its robotic development, allowing AEON to master core locomotion skills in just two to three weeks — rather than five to six months — before real-world deployment.
The industrial humanoid robot utilizes NVIDIA Isaac Sim for complex action simulation and NVIDIA Isaac Lab for reinforcement learning, demonstrating how advanced simulation environments can dramatically reduce development cycles in robotics.
Industry partnerships and pilot programs
Hexagon has secured partnerships with major industrial players Schaeffler and Pilatus for initial pilot programs. These collaborations will test AEON across manipulation, machine tending, part inspection, and reality capture applications in real production environments.
“Consistent with our long history of innovation and always in pursuit of excellence, we are pleased to collaborate with Hexagon’s Robotics division to explore humanoid solutions in our factories,” said Roman Emmenegger, VP of Manufacturing at Pilatus.
The Swiss aircraft manufacturer sees the industrial humanoid robot as “a contributing solution in sustaining our competitiveness in more than ever tougher global markets.”
Sebastian Jonas, Senior Vice President of Advanced Production Technology at Schaeffler, expressed similar enthusiasm:”By leveraging disruptive technologies such as humanoid robots, Schaeffler paves the way to becoming the leading motion technology company.”
Market positioning and commercial timeline
“With AEON, we’re advancing physical AI to tackle real operational challenges – bridging cutting-edge technology with practical industry needs,” 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 digitize their operations.
Critical considerations
While AEON represents significant 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 programs with Schaeffler and Pilatus will likely provide crucial insights into the viability of humanoid robots in real-world industrial environments.
The industrial humanoid robot market remains in its early stages, with AEON joining a growing field of competitors seeking to commercialize general-purpose robotic solutions.
The ultimate test will be whether these sophisticated machines can deliver sufficient return on investment to justify their adoption across industrial settings while navigating the complex dynamics of human-robot collaboration in the workplace.
