Mitsubishi to enlist humanoid robots for its factory rosters

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is striking a partnership with a University of Tokyo startup to add artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robots that are as skilled as veteran employees at its factories. 

As Japan’s deepening labor shortage forces manufacturers to rethink the future of factory work, the Japanese automaker announced July 9 that it will collaborate with Highlanders Inc., a Tokyo-based startup specializing in creating robots modeled after humans.

As experienced workers retire and recruiting replacements becomes increasingly difficult, Mitsubishi aims to use AI to “capture” their expertise and pass it on to the next generation.

The companies have signed a memorandum to develop an industrial framework where humans and robots work side by side. The plan is a joint exploration into developing humanoid robots to introduce at Mitsubishi Motors‛ manufacturing facilities.

Founded in 2023, Highlanders has already developed a robot. Called “N,” it closely resembles a human in height and weight that can walk, perform manual tasks and converse with people.

Mitsubishi plans to begin by deploying several dozens of the robots at its factories. Although the locations have yet to be decided, the engine assembly line at its Kyoto plant is among the candidates.

The company also intends to establish a production line for the robots at the Kyoto facility, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2027 at a capacity of 1,000 units a month.

“When one considers how to pass on the know-how of skilled workers efficiently, humanoid robots hold enormous promise,” said Takao Kato, chairman and chief executive officer.

The initiative reflects the growing interest in physical AI. This subset is dedicated to making machines that can make decisions and act autonomously based on how they perceive the world around them via cameras and sensors.

Carmakers are increasingly applying the technology to areas ranging from autonomous driving to factory automation.

Honda Motor Co., for example, has developed a robotic hand with fingers capable of handling tools and performing delicate tasks. Paired with it is an AI-assisted remote-control system that infers the operator’s intentions and adjusts the hand’s movements accordingly.

Toyota Motor Corp. is also exploring the technology at Woven City in Shizuoka Prefecture, its experimental smart city near Mount Fuji designed to test next-generation mobility technologies under real-world conditions.

At an event there in April, Toyota unveiled a robotic arm capable of serving meals and performing other everyday tasks. The company has also said it will consider introducing physical AI to its own manufacturing operations.

(This article was written by Yuji Yamashita, Jumpei Miura and Kohei Kondo.)