Motion plastics specialist igus has introduced its first humanoid robot, Iggy Rob, designed to assist with industrial production, service operations, and transportation tasks. Priced competitively at approximately $54,500, Iggy Rob offers an accessible entry point into humanoid robotics for businesses looking to automate their workflows without the high costs typically associated with such systems.
The debut of Iggy Rob comes as projections suggest up to 20 million humanoid robots could be in industrial use by 2030. While conventional humanoid robots remain out of financial reach for many organizations, igus seeks to democratize access to robotics through this affordable and versatile solution, built using its proprietary motion plastics components.
Iggy Rob represents the culmination of igus’s long-term innovation in Low-Cost Automation. This development follows a series of milestones, including the ReBeL cobot (2022), the ReBeL Hand (2023), and the ReBeL Move (2024), an autonomous mobile platform. Each step has showcased the capabilities of igus technology in creating functional, cost-efficient robotic systems—now realized in a fully integrated humanoid form.
Measuring 1.70 meters (67 inches) tall, Iggy Rob features two ReBeL Cobot arms, bionic hands, a LiDAR sensor, and 3D cameras for advanced perception and navigation. It can operate autonomously for up to eight hours on a single charge, enabling effective performance in dynamic environments.
The robot runs on the igus Robot Control (iRC) software, is CE-certified, and meets VDE 5050 standards for fleet management. With integration of the ROS2 interface, Iggy Rob is fully compatible with modern robotics ecosystems.
Instead of using legs, Iggy Rob is built on the established ReBeL Move autonomous mobile robot (AMR) platform. This wheeled base features a durable three-point bearing system and supports up to 50 kg (110 lbs) in load capacity, with an overall payload of 100 kg (220 lbs). This design choice not only ensures greater stability and reliability, but also aligns with the existing infrastructure of many industrial environments.
igus envisions a wide range of practical applications for Iggy Rob—from greeting and assisting visitors at reception desks, to transporting items within facilities, and performing canteen tasks like clearing trays and cutlery. Internally, the company plans to use the robot for placing components into injection-molding machines, streamlining its own manufacturing operations.
To ease adoption and validate performance, igus offers a “test before you invest” program. This initiative enables businesses to trial Iggy Rob on-site, with support from igus experts who help evaluate its effectiveness in real-world conditions. If the pilot proves successful, companies can move forward with a purchase at a significantly lower price than traditional humanoid robots, which often cost two to three times more.
“Because our environment is built by and for humans, the potential for humanoid robots is immense,” stated Jan Hennecke, Business Unit Manager for LCA/RBTX at igus. “Iggy Rob offers a practical, affordable way for companies to begin integrating robotics into their operations.”
Source: roboticstomorrow.com