Humanoid Robotics
in Production.
Together with MAPLAN and Terra Robotics, FUTURE CANDY built a real industrial use case: a Unitree G1 takes over feeding a production line, autonomously, precisely, live in front of an audience.
The Challenge.
Can humanoid robots take monotonous work off people's hands?
MAPLAN came to us with an open question: could we build a live demonstrator with a humanoid robot for the DOT Day of Technology, on a real production step, not just a show? And above all: is it even feasible?
Filling in raw silicone is a critical production step at MAPLAN. Even small air pockets can affect the quality of the final product. MAPLAN developed a specialized conveying technology for it, enabling a controlled, near air-pocket-free material transfer.
What was missing: automating the upstream step. The silicone blocks had to be delivered and positioned by hand, monotonous, physically demanding, and a clear candidate for automation. This is exactly where the humanoid robot comes in.
At the same time, the DOT Day of Technology 2.0 was the perfect stage: MAPLAN wanted to show that humanoid robotics works beyond research labs, that it can be integrated incrementally into existing production processes, without rebuilding the entire plant.
The Solution.
To test an idea, you have to build it.
Together with MAPLAN we identified the right production step, the manual delivery of silicone blocks to the conveyor system, and made it the task for the humanoid robot. Terra Robotics programmed the Unitree G1 for the autonomous grab-and-place sequence: the robot picks up the blocks on its own, places them precisely on the conveyor and keeps the material flow running continuously, with no human intervention.
FUTURE CANDY brought the three strands together, mechanical engineering from MAPLAN, robotics from Terra Robotics, concept and staging from us, and onto the stage of the DOT Day of Technology 2.0. No simulation, no showroom, but a real production process, live in front of an audience.
And the robot didn't stop at the industrial case: it was also part of a Visionary Keynote that put humanoid robotics in context for the audience, and positioned the topic visibly for MAPLAN.
Our Products
What we put
to work here.
Three FUTURE CANDY products, applied to two of the most relevant future topics.
Products used
Innovation Consulting
Innovation that ships.
Strategy, execution and transformation. Trends become solid roadmaps and real projects.
Learn more
Tech Events
Formats that wow.
From idea to staging: events and tech experiences that let your audience touch the future.
Learn more
Keynotes
The future on your stage.
Nick Sohnemann & Roman Weishäupl activate your audience for what's next.
Learn moreRelevant trends
Physical AI is more than robotics. It's the intelligence layer that lets machines, products and environments act on their own.
Learn more
Pepper is just the beginning. We make humanoid systems tangible: live, clear and tied directly to your industry.
Learn moreInsights
that stick.
Only when the robot actually stands in front of the machine do people from production, engineering and every other area grasp what robotics can do today. The demonstrator pulls the topic out of the slide deck and into reality, and turns it into a shared basis for discussion.
As a prototype the application works. Series use still needs adaptation, though: the technology is not very standardized yet and complex, and most humanoid robots are not CE-certified. Direct use in live production is therefore not possible today.
When feeding the raw material falls away, room opens up, and with it the question of what work at the machine looks like overall. In parallel, the machine itself keeps evolving, with AI, voice control and LLM support. The humanoid robot is just one part of a bigger shift.
How we did it.
From the first idea
to a running system.
6 steps, from the briefing session to the moment the robot feeds the line live.
Deep dive with MAPLAN: what should the audience take away? What's the message behind the demonstrator? Which industrial processes are the clearest and most impressive?
1 workshop · 0.5 daysWorking out the dramaturgical concept, choosing the feeding task, defining the robotics requirements, first draft of the live staging.
2 weeksOnboarding Terra Robotics as technology partner. Aligning the technical requirements across mechanical engineering, robotics and staging.
1 weekProgramming the autonomous feeding sequence, integrating it into the MAPLAN machine, iterative testing and debugging under production conditions.
4 weeksFull on-site rehearsal at DOT, safety sign-off for live operation in front of an audience, fine-tuning of the hosting and dramaturgy.
1 day on siteMultiple demonstrations for executives and decision-makers from industry, with live commentary, Q&A and a direct link to conversation formats.
Event dayIn action
The robot at the
injection molding machine.
Industry case: a Unitree robot feeds a silicone injection molding machine at MAPLAN.
Want to see how humanoid robots could work for you?
We show you on a real use case what's possible today, from the first idea to a running system.
