Plug and Play Connectivity in Mobile Manipulator & Humanoid Robots

Mobile and humanoid robots rely on optimized connectivity to meet the power and space requirements to keep them competitive in a crowded growth market. (5 min. watch | 11 min. read)

Top Talking Points

Robots are now mobile and designed to navigate the world around them

Hardware is a key factor in operation lifespan, efficiency, and effectiveness

Robustness, weight, and size are the three biggest design factors for hardware

Small, hybrid connectors can help robots work longer and in demanding environments

Doing more in less space will continue to be important for robotics now and in the future

Mobile Evolution of Robots

Robotics has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Traditionally, robots in manufacturing environments were stationary, performing repetitive tasks like painting, assembly, or material handling in fixed locations. These robots were efficient but inflexible, requiring the environment to be designed around them.

Today’s robots are increasingly mobile and intelligent. With the rise of smart connectors for autonomous mobile robots, these machines can now navigate through facilities, adapt to their environment, and perform a wider range of complex tasks. Mobile robots are no longer passive tools but active participants in the workflow.

Mobile robots can travel where the work is needed:

moving materials through warehouses
performing inspections
even collaborating with human workers

This flexibility makes manufacturing more dynamic, efficient, and adaptable. It’s especially valuable in environments where space is limited or tasks are spread across large areas. Compact connectors for mobile robotics enable these systems to be deployed in ways that were previously impossible, enhancing productivity and reducing operational bottlenecks.

Robots can now transport materials across warehouses without human intervention.
They can perform tasks in multiple locations, increasing their utility and value.
They can adapt to different workflows, making them more versatile than ever before.

Mobile Robot AMR in Warehouse — Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are often used to move materials around warehouses or other industrial facilities.

Addressing the Job Displacement Myth

There’s a common fear that robots (especially humanoid robots) are taking jobs away from people. In reality, humanoid robots are enabling machines to fill gaps where human labor is no longer available. The manufacturing workforce is aging, and fewer people are entering the field. Robotics helps address this labor shortage by taking over repetitive, physically demanding tasks.

At the same time, new jobs are being created, especially roles that involve programming, maintaining, and optimizing robots. Rather than replacing humans, robots are enabling people to focus on higher-value, more meaningful work.

Mobile vs. Humanoid Robots

Understanding the difference between mobile and humanoid robots is key to appreciating their roles in modern automation.

Both types of robots depend on battery power and operate without being tethered to a fixed power source, making energy efficiency and battery life critical design considerations. The lighter and more compact the robot, the longer it can operate before needing a recharge.

Mobile Robots (AMRs/AGVs)
Typically wheeled and designed for material handling, these robots benefit from IoT-enabled connectors for autonomous robots that support real-time data and power transmission.
Humanoid Robots
With a human-like form factor, these robots are designed to navigate environments built for people. Their design allows them to perform tasks requiring dexterity or interaction in human-centric spaces.

Why Hardware Matters

In the age of artificial intelligence and advanced software, it’s easy to overlook the importance of hardware. But the physical components inside robots are just as critical as the software that give them their processing power.

Designing robust, reliable hardware is essential to ensuring that robots can perform their tasks consistently and safely. It’s not just about making the robot work, but making them work well, every time, and for longer.

Hardware determines how the robot operates and how long it can run.
It must withstand harsh industrial environments, including shock, vibration, dust, and corrosive substances.
A failure in hardware (like a broken sensor or connector) can compromise the robot’s ability to function safely and effectively.

The Three Pillars of Robotics Hardware

When it comes to designing hardware for robots, three factors stand out:

Robustness
Weight
Size

ROBUSTNESS
Robots operate in challenging environments, to they must be able to withstand physical stress, including shock and vibration, without failing. A sensor or connector that breaks due to vibration can render a robot blind, creating safety risks and operational disruptions.

WEIGHT
Since robots are battery-powered, reducing weight extends battery life and allows the robot to operate longer between charges. Every gram saved contributes to greater efficiency and productivity.

SIZE & DENSITY
Compact components allow for more functionality to be packed into a smaller space. This is especially important for humanoid robots, which need to maintain a human-like form factor to navigate human-centric environments.

Optimizing Robotics Hardware Through Connectivity

The key characteristic that groups mobile and humanoid robots is the reliance on battery power to make them function. Both types of robots are free from being tethered by a power source, which allows for their range of motion. However, that freedom also means the robot is limited in how long it can perform without needing a recharge.

Across all the hardware of a mobile or humanoid robot — motors, sensors, processors — rely on strong connectivity to power them and make them work together. That's why connectors are crucial components for robotics and a prime opportunity for optimization.

ROBUSTNESS
Imagine your robot is walking through a warehouse and a sensor fails because the vibration breaks the connection. When it comes to connectors, it's crucial to choose those which have been tested in the most demanding environments. Checking the IP rating, materials (like hardened plastic or metal), added security features, and other key ruggedness specifications can guide the selection process.

HARTING’s har-flex® PCB connector is one example where an added feature — in this case a unique through-hole for a reflow soldered board connector — creates more secure connections than the standard solution. Because it's been designed and tested for rail applications, its been proven to stand up to harsh environments.

WEIGHT
Cabling is a major contributor to robot weight. Reducing cable size, weight, and footprint can have a big impact on extending battery life. HARTING's T1 Industrial - Single Pair Ethernet connector drastically reduces the size and weight of cabling versus the standard 8-wire pair, prolonging battery lifespan while increasing data transfer speed.

SIZE & DENSITY
Connectors are also where robot engineers can find space efficiencies without sacrificing performance. The HARTING ix Industrial®connector is about 75% smaller than the standard RJ45, which decreases the amount of footprint needed for data communications up to 1/10 Gbit/s.

Future of Robotics

The field of mobile and humanoid robotics is still in its infancy, but growth is expected to be exponential.

Future trends include:

Increased Functionality
Robots will take on more diverse roles, from manufacturing to agriculture and beyond.
Miniaturization
Advances in connector and component design will pack more capability into smaller, lighter packages.
New Applications
As robots become more capable and adaptable, their use will spread to new industries and environments.