@theresarobotforthat.com
@theresarobotforthat.com
I track robotics deployments that move from lab to real-world use.
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is 2028 the realistic timeline for humanoid factories—or the earliest possible date?
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is 2028 the realistic timeline for humanoid factories—or the earliest possible date?
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I track robotics deployments that move from lab to real-world use.
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is 2028 the realistic timeline for humanoid factories—or the earliest possible date?
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is 2028 the realistic timeline for humanoid factories—or the earliest possible date?
For manufacturers evaluating automation now: does a 2028 timeline justify waiting, or should you be planning integration strategies today?
Boston Dynamics just set the benchmark. The question is whether it's conservative or optimistic.
Boston Dynamics just set the benchmark. The question is whether it's conservative or optimistic.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
For manufacturers evaluating automation now: does a 2028 timeline justify waiting, or should you be planning integration strategies today?
Boston Dynamics just set the benchmark. The question is whether it's conservative or optimistic.
Boston Dynamics just set the benchmark. The question is whether it's conservative or optimistic.
What I'm watching for:
—Whether 2028 slips (hardware timelines usually do)
—How long Atlas stays in parts sequencing before graduating to assembly
—If other manufacturers announce competing deadlines or wait to see how this plays out
—Whether 2028 slips (hardware timelines usually do)
—How long Atlas stays in parts sequencing before graduating to assembly
—If other manufacturers announce competing deadlines or wait to see how this plays out
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
What I'm watching for:
—Whether 2028 slips (hardware timelines usually do)
—How long Atlas stays in parts sequencing before graduating to assembly
—If other manufacturers announce competing deadlines or wait to see how this plays out
—Whether 2028 slips (hardware timelines usually do)
—How long Atlas stays in parts sequencing before graduating to assembly
—If other manufacturers announce competing deadlines or wait to see how this plays out
The "robot trainer" positioning is smart.
Hyundai workers won't be replaced—they'll supervise and teach Atlas.
Same model that worked for Stretch: unloading crews still exist, they just don't do the heavy lifting anymore.
Hyundai workers won't be replaced—they'll supervise and teach Atlas.
Same model that worked for Stretch: unloading crews still exist, they just don't do the heavy lifting anymore.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
The "robot trainer" positioning is smart.
Hyundai workers won't be replaced—they'll supervise and teach Atlas.
Same model that worked for Stretch: unloading crews still exist, they just don't do the heavy lifting anymore.
Hyundai workers won't be replaced—they'll supervise and teach Atlas.
Same model that worked for Stretch: unloading crews still exist, they just don't do the heavy lifting anymore.
I think the ROI constraint is real here.
Boston Dynamics' CEO mentioned this explicitly—customers want payback timelines matching their Stretch warehouse robot.
Humanoids have to clear the same financial bar as single-purpose machines.
Boston Dynamics' CEO mentioned this explicitly—customers want payback timelines matching their Stretch warehouse robot.
Humanoids have to clear the same financial bar as single-purpose machines.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I think the ROI constraint is real here.
Boston Dynamics' CEO mentioned this explicitly—customers want payback timelines matching their Stretch warehouse robot.
Humanoids have to clear the same financial bar as single-purpose machines.
Boston Dynamics' CEO mentioned this explicitly—customers want payback timelines matching their Stretch warehouse robot.
Humanoids have to clear the same financial bar as single-purpose machines.
The crawl-walk-run approach is telling:
—2028: Parts sequencing
—Later: Complex assembly
—Eventually: Flexible materials like wiring harnesses
They're not promising the kitchen sink. They're promising one task, done reliably.
—2028: Parts sequencing
—Later: Complex assembly
—Eventually: Flexible materials like wiring harnesses
They're not promising the kitchen sink. They're promising one task, done reliably.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
The crawl-walk-run approach is telling:
—2028: Parts sequencing
—Later: Complex assembly
—Eventually: Flexible materials like wiring harnesses
They're not promising the kitchen sink. They're promising one task, done reliably.
—2028: Parts sequencing
—Later: Complex assembly
—Eventually: Flexible materials like wiring harnesses
They're not promising the kitchen sink. They're promising one task, done reliably.
What surprised me: even Boston Dynamics—with Hyundai backing and a decade of Atlas development—sees general-purpose humanoids as 2+ years out.
That's a reality check for anyone expecting warehouse humanoids next quarter.
That's a reality check for anyone expecting warehouse humanoids next quarter.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
What surprised me: even Boston Dynamics—with Hyundai backing and a decade of Atlas development—sees general-purpose humanoids as 2+ years out.
That's a reality check for anyone expecting warehouse humanoids next quarter.
That's a reality check for anyone expecting warehouse humanoids next quarter.
This is the first time a major robotics company has locked in a specific year and application.
Atlas will start with parts sequencing—moving components around the factory floor.
Not welding. Not assembly. Logistics.
Atlas will start with parts sequencing—moving components around the factory floor.
Not welding. Not assembly. Logistics.
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
This is the first time a major robotics company has locked in a specific year and application.
Atlas will start with parts sequencing—moving components around the factory floor.
Not welding. Not assembly. Logistics.
Atlas will start with parts sequencing—moving components around the factory floor.
Not welding. Not assembly. Logistics.
I track robotics deployments that move from lab to real-world use.
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is custom automation already obsolete—or do specialized solutions still have a moat?
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is custom automation already obsolete—or do specialized solutions still have a moat?
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
I track robotics deployments that move from lab to real-world use.
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is custom automation already obsolete—or do specialized solutions still have a moat?
Daily updates on what's shipping, not just what's demoed.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is custom automation already obsolete—or do specialized solutions still have a moat?
This doesn't mean specialized robots disappear.
But it does mean the control layer might be commoditized before most companies finish their in-house builds.
But it does mean the control layer might be commoditized before most companies finish their in-house builds.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
This doesn't mean specialized robots disappear.
But it does mean the control layer might be commoditized before most companies finish their in-house builds.
But it does mean the control layer might be commoditized before most companies finish their in-house builds.
What I'm watching for:
—Which Fortune 500 announces they're using Skild (revenue says someone already is)
—Whether competitors match the omni-bodied approach or double down on specialization
—First public deployment benchmarks
—Which Fortune 500 announces they're using Skild (revenue says someone already is)
—Whether competitors match the omni-bodied approach or double down on specialization
—First public deployment benchmarks
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
What I'm watching for:
—Which Fortune 500 announces they're using Skild (revenue says someone already is)
—Whether competitors match the omni-bodied approach or double down on specialization
—First public deployment benchmarks
—Which Fortune 500 announces they're using Skild (revenue says someone already is)
—Whether competitors match the omni-bodied approach or double down on specialization
—First public deployment benchmarks
The investor list matters here:
—SoftBank (led the round)
—NVIDIA (compute partner)
—Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions)
—LG, Samsung (strategic hardware partners)
They're betting foundation models beat vertical integration.
—SoftBank (led the round)
—NVIDIA (compute partner)
—Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions)
—LG, Samsung (strategic hardware partners)
They're betting foundation models beat vertical integration.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
The investor list matters here:
—SoftBank (led the round)
—NVIDIA (compute partner)
—Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions)
—LG, Samsung (strategic hardware partners)
They're betting foundation models beat vertical integration.
—SoftBank (led the round)
—NVIDIA (compute partner)
—Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions)
—LG, Samsung (strategic hardware partners)
They're betting foundation models beat vertical integration.
I think this is the inflection point where general-purpose AI arrives faster than proprietary systems can ship.
If you're planning a custom build that deploys in 2027, you're competing with foundation models that already work.
If you're planning a custom build that deploys in 2027, you're competing with foundation models that already work.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
I think this is the inflection point where general-purpose AI arrives faster than proprietary systems can ship.
If you're planning a custom build that deploys in 2027, you're competing with foundation models that already work.
If you're planning a custom build that deploys in 2027, you're competing with foundation models that already work.
Most mid-sized manufacturers I've seen spend 12-24 months developing custom automation solutions.
By the time they deploy, the tech stack is already outdated.
Skild's customers are licensing instead of building.
By the time they deploy, the tech stack is already outdated.
Skild's customers are licensing instead of building.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Most mid-sized manufacturers I've seen spend 12-24 months developing custom automation solutions.
By the time they deploy, the tech stack is already outdated.
Skild's customers are licensing instead of building.
By the time they deploy, the tech stack is already outdated.
Skild's customers are licensing instead of building.
Here's what surprised me:
Skild's "omni-bodied brain" works across humanoids, arms, and wheeled robots.
One AI system. Any hardware.
That means no custom software per platform.
Skild's "omni-bodied brain" works across humanoids, arms, and wheeled robots.
One AI system. Any hardware.
That means no custom software per platform.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Here's what surprised me:
Skild's "omni-bodied brain" works across humanoids, arms, and wheeled robots.
One AI system. Any hardware.
That means no custom software per platform.
Skild's "omni-bodied brain" works across humanoids, arms, and wheeled robots.
One AI system. Any hardware.
That means no custom software per platform.
Skild just raised $1.4B at a $14B valuation—3x their valuation from last May.
Backed by SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Bezos.
But the valuation jump isn't the story. The revenue velocity is.
Backed by SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Bezos.
But the valuation jump isn't the story. The revenue velocity is.
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Skild just raised $1.4B at a $14B valuation—3x their valuation from last May.
Backed by SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Bezos.
But the valuation jump isn't the story. The revenue velocity is.
Backed by SoftBank, NVIDIA, and Bezos.
But the valuation jump isn't the story. The revenue velocity is.
I track robotics deployments that move from lab to real-world use.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is plug-and-play enterprise integration the unlock that makes 2026 the year humanoids go mainstream?
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is plug-and-play enterprise integration the unlock that makes 2026 the year humanoids go mainstream?
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I track robotics deployments that move from lab to real-world use.
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is plug-and-play enterprise integration the unlock that makes 2026 the year humanoids go mainstream?
https://theresarobotforthat.com
Is plug-and-play enterprise integration the unlock that makes 2026 the year humanoids go mainstream?
For operations leaders: if your WMS is SAP, you should be asking when this becomes available.
If it's not SAP, you should be asking your vendor when they'll have equivalent robot integration.
Because someone in your industry is already testing this.
If it's not SAP, you should be asking your vendor when they'll have equivalent robot integration.
Because someone in your industry is already testing this.
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
For operations leaders: if your WMS is SAP, you should be asking when this becomes available.
If it's not SAP, you should be asking your vendor when they'll have equivalent robot integration.
Because someone in your industry is already testing this.
If it's not SAP, you should be asking your vendor when they'll have equivalent robot integration.
Because someone in your industry is already testing this.
The timing is interesting.
Humanoid hardware costs are dropping fast—Unitree's G1 started at $16K, now sells for ~$13.5K.
Now a €250B+ software company is solving the deployment infrastructure problem.
Two barriers falling at the same time.
Humanoid hardware costs are dropping fast—Unitree's G1 started at $16K, now sells for ~$13.5K.
Now a €250B+ software company is solving the deployment infrastructure problem.
Two barriers falling at the same time.
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
The timing is interesting.
Humanoid hardware costs are dropping fast—Unitree's G1 started at $16K, now sells for ~$13.5K.
Now a €250B+ software company is solving the deployment infrastructure problem.
Two barriers falling at the same time.
Humanoid hardware costs are dropping fast—Unitree's G1 started at $16K, now sells for ~$13.5K.
Now a €250B+ software company is solving the deployment infrastructure problem.
Two barriers falling at the same time.
What I'm watching for:
—SAP announcing this as a product, not just a pilot
—Other ERP vendors (Oracle, Microsoft) rushing to match
—First Fortune 500 to deploy based on this integration capability
—SAP announcing this as a product, not just a pilot
—Other ERP vendors (Oracle, Microsoft) rushing to match
—First Fortune 500 to deploy based on this integration capability
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
What I'm watching for:
—SAP announcing this as a product, not just a pilot
—Other ERP vendors (Oracle, Microsoft) rushing to match
—First Fortune 500 to deploy based on this integration capability
—SAP announcing this as a product, not just a pilot
—Other ERP vendors (Oracle, Microsoft) rushing to match
—First Fortune 500 to deploy based on this integration capability
This is still a proof of concept—SAP calls it "a great first step."
But they're already running similar pilots with Sartorius (lab equipment) and Martur Fompak (automotive seating).
The pattern is clear: they're building toward a product.
But they're already running similar pilots with Sartorius (lab equipment) and Martur Fompak (automotive seating).
The pattern is clear: they're building toward a product.
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
This is still a proof of concept—SAP calls it "a great first step."
But they're already running similar pilots with Sartorius (lab equipment) and Martur Fompak (automotive seating).
The pattern is clear: they're building toward a product.
But they're already running similar pilots with Sartorius (lab equipment) and Martur Fompak (automotive seating).
The pattern is clear: they're building toward a product.
I think this matters more than better hardware.
You can build the most capable humanoid in the world, but if it takes 6 months to integrate with a company's WMS, it won't get deployed.
SAP just made deployment a configuration problem, not a development project.
You can build the most capable humanoid in the world, but if it takes 6 months to integrate with a company's WMS, it won't get deployed.
SAP just made deployment a configuration problem, not a development project.
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I think this matters more than better hardware.
You can build the most capable humanoid in the world, but if it takes 6 months to integrate with a company's WMS, it won't get deployed.
SAP just made deployment a configuration problem, not a development project.
You can build the most capable humanoid in the world, but if it takes 6 months to integrate with a company's WMS, it won't get deployed.
SAP just made deployment a configuration problem, not a development project.
The real breakthrough is the integration layer.
Every enterprise robot deployment I've tracked hits the same wall: months of custom integration work to connect robots to existing systems.
SAP's "Embodied AI layer" eliminated that.
Every enterprise robot deployment I've tracked hits the same wall: months of custom integration work to connect robots to existing systems.
SAP's "Embodied AI layer" eliminated that.
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
The real breakthrough is the integration layer.
Every enterprise robot deployment I've tracked hits the same wall: months of custom integration work to connect robots to existing systems.
SAP's "Embodied AI layer" eliminated that.
Every enterprise robot deployment I've tracked hits the same wall: months of custom integration work to connect robots to existing systems.
SAP's "Embodied AI layer" eliminated that.