UK-built HMND 01 humanoid robot proves it can handle real warehouse logistics

If factory workers have reasons to fear being replaced by robots, a UK-based robot company is not doing anything to reassure them. Humanoid has just put its robot, the HMND 01 Alpha Wheeled, through its paces in a factory controlled by Martur Fompak, an automotive supplier.

While other robot firms put on dancing demos or try to convince businesses and investors of the technical capabilities of their products, Humanoid actually put HMND 1 in a production environment to assess practical use cases. It did not have the luxury of specially-designed or isolated test environments.

During the trial, the robot operated entirely without human intervention, much as humans are expected to work. It received tasks from Martur Fompak’s operating software and executed them. Using the Joule agent layer, HMND 1 was able to connect to the company’s core IT systems via the internet.

HMND 1’s test framework involved a live order fulfilment cycle to reflect the factory’s normal working conditions. The humanoid autonomously located pallets, picked up loads, and delivered them to a waiting trolley.

The robot was powered by Humanoid’s KinetIQ AI platform, which enables it to adapt to shifting production demands. The pilot phase lasted from January to February 2026, and HMND 1 lifted loads weighing up to 17.6 pounds (about 8 kg). Humanoid claims the robot performed consistently under real-world conditions.