Viral videos showing humanoid robots kicking children or dancing uncontrollably have exposed a fundamental problem for the entire industry: how to make machines safe for humans in warehouses and offices. The industry is responding to these risks by creating multi-layered protection systems — from specialized Nvidia chips to abandoning bipedal designs in favor of wheeled platforms.
The Problem of Probabilistic Systems
Traditional industrial robots — welding machines and forklifts — operate on rigid algorithms. But AI-based humanoid robots are probabilistic systems that make decisions based on statistical data rather than strict rules. This creates a fundamentally different level of threat. As functional safety specialist Michel Silva notes, the simplest scenario is a power outage: "If a humanoid robot loses power, it can simply collapse and crush you."
Technical Solutions: From Chips to Infrastructure
Nvidia has already introduced a safety system for humanoid robots based on Blackwell chips. The company's senior director of robotics, Amit Goel, explains that the model analyzes sensor data and stops the machine when danger is detected. "We created an operating system layer and a software stack that allows running functional safety and the control system together in a broader context," he stated.
An additional level of control is integration with external infrastructure. Philadelphia-based Fort Robotics develops controllers that collect data from multiple sources. CEO Samuel Reeves emphasizes: "It's not just about detecting a person in the work zone, but about complex analysis — where they are, what posture they're in, and how much this data can be trusted for decision-making."
Standardization and Design Trade-offs
The problem of stability loss is so serious that the International Organization for Standardization is preparing safety requirements for humanoid robots, with publication expected by mid-2028. Until uniform rules exist, manufacturers are finding their own paths.
German company Neura Robotics produces the 80 kg bipedal robot 4NE1. Founder David Reger claims that if a joint fails, the machine will attempt to regain balance, and if that's impossible, it will fall "like a collapsing building," folding downward. Other developers have taken a more radical approach: Dexmate creates robots on wheeled platforms with long manipulators. Co-founder Yuzhe Qin explains that the battery and electronics are placed in the platform, providing a low center of gravity and eliminating falls.
Cobot founder Brad Porter suggests assessing the threat without excessive drama. His company makes wheeled robots for hospitals and factories that move at walking speed and lack super-strong grips. "We don't need to put a lot of energy into actions. We're not trying to crush watermelons," he jokes.
My analysis: The safety problem of humanoid robots is not just a technical nuance but a key barrier to their commercialization. Until the industry develops uniform standards and proves system reliability in practice, mass adoption will remain in question. Interestingly, abandoning legs in favor of wheels could be a temporary but pragmatic solution while bipedal designs catch up in safety.