Schaeffler plans to produce gearboxes for humanoids by 2027

Schaeffler Technologies AG has completed extensive testing of strain-wave gearboxes for humanoid robots. Serial production is planned for 2027. According to The Robot Report, the release will begin in Germany, and only then the technology will be introduced in other regions. Wave gearboxes are used in joint drives. They provide high gear ratios, torque, precision and rigidity in a compact package. According to the publication's estimates, drives account for about half the cost of a humanoid robot. This means that gearboxes are a key point for reducing costs and increasing production efficiency.

Shaping instead of removing material

Traditional strain-wave gear manufacturing relies on precision machining: excess material is trimmed away to achieve the desired tooth geometry. Schaeffler calls this approach time-consuming and capital-intensive. According to the company, it can restrain the production volumes of humanoid robots. An alternative method uses high forming pressure to shape the parts into the desired shape. Schaeffler claims that individual operations now take seconds rather than minutes. It is stated that production costs are reduced by more than 25%, material consumption by more than 75%. At the same time, torque and efficiency remain comparable to parts manufactured in a traditional way. However, these are the characteristics declared by the company itself. The report does not contain data on gear ratios, backlash, dimensions, service life or the results of independent comparative tests. Without such figures, it is difficult to assess how suitable Schaeffler gearboxes are for different joints with their individual torque, layout and service life requirements.

Large-scale production experience

Schaeffler applies its expertise in the automotive business. The company reports that over the past ten years it has supplied more than 2 million molded strain-wave gearboxes to the world's largest markets. David Kehr, Schaeffler's president of humanoid robotics, noted that the company is also using humanoid robots throughout its global production chain. This gives component teams immediate insight into operational requirements. Schaeffler sees this internal application, together with an established production base, as the basis for the production of joint components for humanoid robots on an industrial scale. The target date - 2027 - sets a specific schedule. But the published materials do not name the first customers, planned capacities or specific robot platforms on which these gearboxes will be used. It is only known that production will first be launched in Germany and then expanded to other regions.