With Agile One, Germany’s Agile Robots Wants to Be a Force in the Humanoid Robot Race

It will be the star of Hannover Messe 2026. Unveiled last November, Agile One — Germany’s homegrown humanoid robot — will make its first public appearance at the German industrial trade show this coming April. A statement of intent that Europeans, and Germans in particular, are still very much in the game in the humanoid robotics sector, a market largely dominated by Chinese and American players.

While we weren’t able to get an exclusive look at Agile One in person at the Hannover Messe preview — we’ll have to wait until April like everyone else — we did get the chance to sit down with the team and learn more about it.

From Aerospace Spinoff to Global Automation Leader

Founded in 2018 as a spinoff from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Agile Robots has rapidly grown from a research initiative into an international automation powerhouse. Today, the company operates 15 global sites with over 2,000 employees — spanning Germany, India, China, and beyond.

And what truly sets Agile Robots apart, according to the team, is its philosophy. 

“Our approach to automation is holistic,” explains Henner Brandes, Head of Communications in an interview with DirectIndustry. “We don’t just sell robots — we automate entire factories. Agile One is not meant as a standalone solution. It is part of a connected ecosystem where it contributes to automating entire factories.” 

That comprehensive vision encompasses robotic arms, robotic hands, mobile platforms, proprietary software, and now, the company’s most ambitious product yet: Agile One. This humanoid robot was introduced last November.

Agile One: A Humanoid Built for the Ecosystem, Not the Spotlight

The humanoid can handle assembly tasks and material handling, using intelligent vision systems and robotic foundation models to detect and interact with its environment autonomously.

One of the robot’s most striking technical features is its hand. With 21 degrees of freedom, it approaches the dexterity of a human hand. This offers what Brandes describes as “unprecedented capabilities in manipulation.“

At Hannover Messe, next April, visitors will be able to get their first live look at Agile One performing an assembly task — specifically, putting together miniature robots.

The Intelligence Within: Proprietary Foundation Models

Agile Robots builds its own AI models in-house — a deliberate choice that feeds directly into the company’s competitive positioning. The robotic foundation models are trained on a vast and deliberately diverse data mix. This can be production data from Agile Robots’ own sites (and from consenting customers), synthetic simulation data, and teleoperated “human data” that captures nuanced hand and body movements.

“The robot doesn’t have to be trained in a specific environment,” says Brandes. “It uses these models to recognize its surroundings and adapt to them. And with all this information, the robot is capable of acting in that environment autonomously.”

This environment-agnostic intelligence is key. It means Agile One can be deployed in new settings without time-consuming reprogramming.

During a panel discussion at the press preview, Sven Parusel, Head of Research Partnerships at Agile Robots, elaborated on the data philosophy:

“High quality data is what matters for training new foundation models — you probably can’t have enough of it, but it needs to be good.” 

The company therefore continuously monitors and refines its models throughout the lifecycle of each production deployment. It integrates AI not as an add-on IT layer, but as something embedded in the hardware itself.

The Ecosystem Advantage: AMRs, Arms, and Humanoids — Together

While competitors focus on delivering humanoid robots as standalone products, Agile Robots positions Agile One as one component of a broader, fully integrated offering. A customer can deploy a humanoid alongside AMRs, robotic arms, and AI-powered vision systems. All are connected and managed by a single software platform.

“There might be cases where AMRs are better, where robotic arms are better,” Brandes acknowledges. “We don’t believe humanoids will replace all existing solutions — they are part of the solution.” 

This pragmatic stance is reflected in the company’s pricing model too. Since Agile Robots sells complete factory automation packages rather than individual units, there is no fixed price for Agile One. The cost is determined by the scope and complexity of the full ecosystem deployed.

According to the company, early customers come from consumer electronics and automotive sectors, two industries where precision, flexibility, and high throughput are paramount. Parusel cited AI-powered dual-arm gearbox assembly as an example of the kind of application where the company is already demonstrating measurable value: making production faster and more flexible.

Physical AI: The Right Moment

For Parusel, the timing of all this is no coincidence. 

“Physical AI — bringing robots and physical machines together with AI — this is the right time to talk about how we make this a reality,” he says. 

While AI vision systems have been successfully deployed in factories for years, the integration of foundation models into physical robotic systems represents a meaningful step change. But he’s convinced the trajectory is clear. And that early adopters are already demonstrating the value of AI-driven manufacturing on the shop floor.

Made in Germany — and Built to Last

Agile Robots is deliberately positioning itself as a European champion in a space increasingly dominated by Chinese and American players. Parusel is direct on the stakes involved:

 “If we don’t participate in this movement, we will have big problems. In Germany, in Europe — we have to succeed.” 

Agile One will be manufactured at their factory near Munich. Production is currently being set up.