Fleets are growing, humanoids are still proving themselves and aisle-picking robots are arriving. Follow what is changing on the floor, then plan with The Humanoid Group.
Service robot sales rise 24%, led by robots that move goods
· Market
The International Federation of Robotics says shipments of professional service robots grew 24% to almost 250,000 units in 2025. Transport and logistics robots stayed the largest group, with 117,500 units sold, up 21% and 47% of the total. The figures come from IFR's World Robotics 2026 report, released in Frankfurt.
Why it matters: Robots that move totes, carts and pallets are now the mainstream warehouse purchase. More makers and more reference sites give buyers firmer ground when negotiating price, service levels and support terms.
GXO heads toward 20,000 robots, with no humanoids yet in production
· Deployment
GXO Logistics expects to have nearly 20,000 robots operating across its network by the end of 2026. It has completed 45 humanoid pilots without moving one into production. CEO Patrick Kelleher pointed to hand dexterity and picking speed as the gaps and estimated production use is probably about two years away.
Why it matters: Mobile robots already pay back at scale, while humanoids still have to match human picking speed. A scoped trial with agreed measures, the way the THG Pilot program is set up, keeps that test honest.
InOrbit releases open-source reference software for ISO 21423 robot fleets
· Standards
InOrbit released OpenRobOps, open-source robot operations and fleet management software under the Apache 2.0 license, described as the first reference implementation of ISO 21423. The standard defines how industrial mobile robots and fleet managers exchange data so machines from different vendors can share a site; ten companies demonstrated it together at Automate 2026.
Why it matters: Most warehouses end up running robots from more than one maker. Ask every vendor which interoperability standards they support, so new fleets can share maps, traffic rules and one dashboard.
Warehousing: hazards and solutions— Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). US guidance on warehouse hazards, from forklifts and docks to racking and conveyors, with the OSHA rules that apply.
29 CFR 1910.178 Powered industrial trucks— Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The US federal rule on forklift design, operator training and evaluation, and safe operation at work.
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