Figure AI and Indian Logistics Leaders Pilot Humanoid Robots in Warehousing - RobotWale News

Pilot Deployment Begins

Figure AI announced on October 15, 2024, the commencement of commercial pilot trials for its Figure 04 humanoid robot alongside Indian logistics partner Delhivery. The deployment targets high-volume fulfillment centers in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, focusing on pallet sorting, inventory scanning, and load transport. The trial follows a six-month integration phase where the robot vision language model was calibrated for Indian warehouse environments. Delhivery will evaluate the platform operational efficiency, safety protocols, and integration with existing warehouse management systems.

The Figure 04 features a 40 degree of freedom actuation system, dual camera RGB D sensors, and a torque controlled wrist capable of 15 newton meters of output. Delhivery pilot will run for 90 days across three facilities, measuring task completion rates, battery endurance, and human robot collaboration metrics. Early data from similar deployments in Southeast Asia suggests a 30 percent reduction in manual material handling time when integrated with automated guided vehicles.

Domestic Alternatives Gain Traction

Alongside international pilots, Indian robotics firms are accelerating development of cost competitive humanoid platforms. Bengaluru based startup Robovision Systems unveiled the Vayu 1, a 1.8 meter bipedal robot priced at 18.5 lakh rupees, designed for small and medium enterprises. The platform features a custom torque controlled joint system, solid state LiDAR navigation, and an open source AI stack compatible with ROS 2. Chennai based Automata Robotics followed with the Sutra X, targeting automotive component handling at 22 lakh rupees. Both units are slated for Q1 2025 delivery to pilot customers in Gujarat and Karnataka.

Pricing and Adoption Outlook

Domestic manufacturers are leveraging India growing semiconductor and precision engineering ecosystem to reduce component costs. The Vayu 1 utilizes locally sourced harmonic drives and custom designed neural processing units that cut inference latency to 12 milliseconds. Automata Robotics has partnered with IIT Madras to validate motion planning algorithms using real world factory floor datasets. Both platforms support over the air updates and modular end effectors, allowing rapid reconfiguration for pick and place, welding assistance, and quality inspection tasks.

Market adoption hinges on scalable financing models and standardized safety certifications. The Confederation of Indian Industry has proposed a leasing framework that could lower upfront capital expenditure by 40 percent. With government incentives under the Production Linked Incentive scheme for advanced robotics, domestic humanoid platforms are expected to capture 25 percent of the local market by 2026. Regulatory frameworks for workplace safety and AI liability remain under review by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with final guidelines expected by mid 2025. RobotWale.com will continue monitoring deployment metrics, regulatory updates, and manufacturer roadmaps as the sector transitions from pilot to commercial scale.