Safety, Motion & Touch in Physical AI Brad Rex (Renesas)
Brad Rex, head of Physical AI and Humanoid at Renesas Electronics, discusses the role of semiconductors and safety in humanoid robotics at the Humanoids Summit in Korea.
In this talk
- 0:09
Robots are moving into shared spaces
Rex compares trust in humanoids with trust in elevators, built through years of safety work and regulation. As robots leave fenced factory settings and work near people, the industry must establish that trust. He points to Korea’s high robot density, more than 1,000 robots per 10,000 workers, and its $1.5 billion industrial robotics market.
- 3:52
More capable robots need more than AI
Rex describes a shift from machines built for repeated single tasks to robots with greater mobility and force feedback, followed by recent gains in capability. Cheaper computing and components, more actuators, and advances in AI are driving that change. He expects robots to handle less predictable work, first in factories and later in homes.
- 7:34
A robot is a system of silicon domains
Industrial arms, mobile robots, drones, appliances, and surgical robots share core hardware needs: sensing, computation, and control. Rex identifies six key areas in a robotic subsystem: compute, safety circuitry, motion control, sensing, tactile manipulation, and power. Software connects these pieces, while sensors and motion hardware are just as important to useful performance as the main processor.
- 11:35
Plan for guarding and failure early
Rex says current development often emphasizes perception, decision-making, and movement, while safety responses to faults receive less attention. A humanoid that loses power could fall, so power systems may need to keep it stable long enough for service. Since humanoids lack a factory-style stop button, failure handling should shape the design from the start.
- 14:38
Prepare for standards and reuse automotive work
Rex says industrial and automotive safety standards are being adapted for mobile robots, with early certification drafts expected around 2027 or 2028. He advises reviewing draft requirements early and choosing components or modules with relevant certifications. Renesas’ automotive experience in perception, positioning, and safety can inform humanoid designs.
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