Hexagon Unveils AEON: Advanced Humanoid Robot for Industrial Automation and Safety

Hexagon AB, a leading global technology company based in Zurich, launched its first humanoid robot, AEON, at the Hexagon LIVE Global event last week. The company emphasized that AEON was designed to tackle specific industrial challenges, including labor shortages and improving operational efficiency and safety. Hexagon's chairman, Ola Rollén, highlighted the company's extensive experience in precision measurement and sensor technologies, which has been integrated into the development of AEON over the past decade. He expressed pride in seeing the robot come to life, describing it as a significant leap forward in helping customers achieve sustainable growth amid demographic shifts. Hexagon claims that AEON combines advanced sensor technologies, AI-driven mission control, and spatial intelligence, making it agile, versatile, and highly aware of its environment. These features enable the robot to perform a wide array of tasks, such as manipulation, asset inspection, reality capture, and operator support, across various sectors like automotive, aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. The company believes that AEON can enhance safety and drive automation in these industries, which have been slower to adopt robotic solutions despite growing interest. The launch of AEON comes at a time when humanoid robots are gaining traction, though commercial deployments remain limited. Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to purchase thousands of Boston Dynamics' Atlas robots, while Figure AI is delivering its Figure 02 systems to initial customers. Earlier this year, GXO deployed a small fleet of Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoids at a Spanx facility in Georgia, marking the first paid deployment of such robots. Schaeffler AG followed suit by investing in Agility and planning to use Digit robots across its global network. Hexagon is lining up early pilot programs with prominent partners to showcase AEON's capabilities. Schaeffler and Pilatus will pilot the robot in manipulation, machine tending, part inspection, and reality-capture scenarios. Sebastian Jonas, senior vice president for advanced production technology at Schaeffler, noted that the partnership aligns with Schaeffler's vision of becoming a leader in motion technology. He expressed excitement about leveraging Hexagon Robotics' humanoid solutions to optimize their manufacturing processes. The development of AEON was made possible through strategic collaborations with technology giants NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Maxon. AEON utilizes NVIDIA's accelerated computing, Omniverse, and Jetson platforms, which are crucial for its AI-driven mission control and advanced locomotion. Deepu Talla, vice president of robotics and edge AI at NVIDIA, highlighted the significance of AEON in ushering in an era of general-purpose robotics, driven by advancements in simulation and physical AI. The company is also exploring further enhancements using NVIDIA Isaac GR00T, which can improve robot reasoning and policy-making through synthetic data generation. Microsoft’s Azure platform supports scalable development and on-demand training, ensuring AEON's capabilities can evolve and adapt to diverse industrial needs. Maxon contributes by providing next-generation actuators that enable AEON to navigate various environments effectively. Additionally, Hexagon acquired navigation technology firm Septentrio NV earlier this year, further strengthening AEON’s navigation capabilities. The integration of these cutting-edge technologies makes AEON uniquely suited to address complex industrial tasks, offering a promising solution to labor shortages and enhancing safety and efficiency. Industry insiders view Hexagon’s entry into the humanoid robotics market with optimism, recognizing the company's strong foundation in precision measurement and sensor technologies. They believe that AEON’s advanced capabilities and strategic partnerships could accelerate the adoption of humanoid robots in industrial settings, paving the way for significant advancements in automation and productivity. Hexagon AB, founded in 1992, is a multinational provider of information technologies, primarily focusing on sensor solutions and autonomous technologies. With a presence in over 50 countries and over 24,000 employees, Hexagon consistently invests in research and development to bring innovative solutions to market. The company’s move into humanoid robotics underscores its commitment to driving technological progress and addressing critical industry challenges.