International Federation of Robotics President Jane Heffner discussed humanoid robots on Robots Today. She said humanoids advance vision, grasping and manipulation in robotics. She noted they can move to the work and perform multiple tasks. She argued purpose-built machines are faster, safer and more reliable for most factory work. She said existing robot arms on mobile platforms can already do this without humanoids. She flagged safety as a major hurdle for humanoids operating around people. She said bipedal motion and high center of gravity create stabilization challenges. She noted relevant safety standards are still under development. She said humanoids could fit in spaces designed for people without redesign. She expects humanoids to complement other robot forms rather than replace them. She said most humanoid development is still in prototype and concept work. She said moving to production-scale deployment will take time.