For less than €50,000*: igus presents humanoid robot Iggy Rob

Two-armed plastic robot from the Cologne-based company will provide support in a variety of ways in future - test phase included before purchase

Humanoid robots are on the verge of revolutionising the industry. While previous systems are very expensive, motion plastics specialist igus is now offering its first humanoid robot, Iggy Rob, as a low-cost solution. For €47,999, it supports companies in industrial production, service or with transport tasks. To gain experience with the new helper, igus is calling on companies to "test before they invest".

The trend is pointing in a clear direction: according to estimates, 20 million humanoid robots could be in use in industry by 2030. Demand for the technology is also growing rapidly among European companies. However, humanoid robots are currently still very expensive and the first potential applications have yet to be identified in many places. A fact that the Cologne-based motion plastics expert igus now wants to change: with Iggy Rob, the company is supplying a low-cost humanoid robot that allows for a wide range of applications thanks to its two arms and a strong, wheel-driven base. "Our world has been made by people for people, which means that the potential for humanoid robots is huge," explains Alexander Mühlens, Head of Business Unit Low Cost Automation at igus.

Eight hours on duty without a break

Iggy Rob is around 1.70m tall and can move around for eight hours on a single charge. It greets its colleagues with a smile, two ReBeL Cobot arms and two bionic hands. Equipped with a LIDAR sensor and 3D cameras for object detection, the robot navigates through its environment with ease. igus operates it with its own igus Robot Control. The robot is approved for fleet management in accordance with VDE 5050 and is CE-certified. When you add a ROS2 interface, Iggy Rob fulfils the requirements of modern robotics.

AMR lays the foundations

Iggy Rob is based on the ReBeL Move autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Thanks to a three-point bearing, the mobile platform is very strong. igus has deliberately dispensed with legs in its humanoid robot, as the infrastructure for AMRs is already advanced in many factories. With a load capacity of 50kg and a payload of 100kg, the ReBeL Move fulfils the requirements for movements that are not related to workstations. Iggy Rob can work as a service robot at reception, take on transport tasks in the factory or clear away cutlery in the canteen. igus itself plans to use the Iggy Rob when inserting components into the company's injection-moulding machines. "We assume that humanoid robots will initially be of particular interest for industrial purposes," explains Alexander Mühlens.

Joint further development: "test before you invest"

igus counts on its customers in the further development of the Iggy Rob. The manufacturer offers a "test before you invest" programme ahead of the purchase, in which igus experts evaluate the potential on site and test possible applications on the real robot. If the test is convincing, the Iggy Rob is available at a purchase price of €47,999*, which is low by market standards. "Some of the humanoid robots currently available cost two or three times that amount," says Mühlens.

You can find more information about the humanoid robot here: https://www.igus.eu/automation/news/humanoid-robot