IEEE releases ‘A Pathway Study for Future Humanoid Standards’

Humanoid study group identifies key frameworks for humanoid robots

By Tim Culverhouse    September 24, 2025         

IEEE releases ‘A Pathway Study for Future Humanoid Standards’

IEEE

"A Pathway Study for Future Humanoid Standards" was written by over 70 industry experts to discuss challenges with industry-wide standards and humanoid robots.

Email Sign Up

Get news, papers, media and research delivered. Sign up for our free newsletters.

Stay up-to-date with news and resources you need to do your job. Research industry trends, compare companies and get weekly market intelligence with Robotics 24/7.

Robotics 24/7 newsletter
IEEE releases ‘A Pathway Study for Future Humanoid Standards’

IEEE

"A Pathway Study for Future Humanoid Standards" was written by over 70 industry experts to discuss challenges with industry-wide standards and humanoid robots.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) released A Pathway Study for Future Humanoid Standards.

The report, which is available for download on ResearchGate, was developed by over 70 robotics experts to highlight critical elements that make humanoid robots unique, and how they’re currently operating outside current standards.

The authors of the study highlight why new standards are needed to ensure safety with humanoid deployments.

Humanoid standards are lacking

The study lays out the reasons why industry-wide standards are necessary for humanoid robots. Adaptability across industries is often highlighted as one of the main selling points for humanoids, but this characteristic also creates a challenge for uniformity.

Industry-wide standards aren’t available yet for humanoids, but this study looks to further the conversation about humanoid development and generate a roadmap to standardized processes to certify the safety of human-robot interactions.

Aaron Prather, who serves as the lead of IEEE’s Humanoid Study Group and recently participated in the Facility & Inventory Monitoring & Management session of the 2025 Robotics Applications Conference (RAC 25) hosted by Robotics 24/7, said in the study’s abstract:

“For those developing humanoids, these findings are a roadmap to broader acceptance. Manufacturers need clear criteria to prove that their robots are safe and effective. Customers need assurance that the robots they adopt will function reliably in their intended environments. Regulators require standards that are precise enough to be applied consistently, yet flexible enough to support innovation.”

About the Author
Tim Culverhouse, Editorial Director

Tim Culverhouse

Editorial Director

Tim is the Editorial Director of Robotics247.com. His mission is to provide valuable information and insights to robotics professionals and decision-makers, and to help them solve business challenges. He is a creative, deadline-driven, and detail-oriented storyteller. In addition, he is a sports broadcaster and public address announcer.

More about Tim Culverhouse

Latest in Standards

Latest in Artificial Intelligence

Article Topics

Artificial Intelligence   Deep Learning   Machine Vision   Machine Learning   Industrial Automation   Collaborative Robots   News   Deployment   Human-Machine Interaction   Humanoid   IEEE   Safety   Standards  

All topics

Editors' Picks

The future of CFD is connected, automated, and AI-enabled
The future of CFD is connected, automated, and AI-enabled

From geometry preparation to AI-assisted analysis, integrated CFD workflows…

Festo gets a grip on AI-based picking
Festo gets a grip on AI-based picking

Software-based GripperAI manages mixed picking through basic geometry

How Beckhoff Automation’s EtherCAT and controllers power Dexterity’s Mech ‘superhumanoid’ robot
How Beckhoff Automation’s EtherCAT and controllers power Dexterity’s Mech ‘superhumanoid’ robot

Safety, communication and motion control components enable smooth operation

Automate 2026: Forklifts, physical AI, vision systems and more from day three in Chicago
Automate 2026: Forklifts, physical AI, vision systems and more from day three in Chicago

North America’s largest robotics and automation event winds down