NM3D Ibérica participated in the HAARO seminar – “Humanoids in Industry: Challenges and Opportunities” – held at CTAG – the Galician Automotive Technology Centre, with a presentation dedicated to the topic “Application of Humanoids in Metrology.”
The presentation was delivered by Nuno Costa, CEO of NM3D Ibérica, and focused on VIRIATO, a humanoid robot based on the UBTECH Walker S2 platform, presented as a physical interface for a new vision of industrial metrology: more autonomous, more connected and closer to production.
The event took place within the framework of HAARO, a CTAG initiative focused on the development, training, simulation and validation of advanced robotic technologies for real industrial applications.
The session also featured an important technical collaboration between NM3D Ibérica, CTAG and CITIIN. Within this framework, CTAG provides the technological environment and infrastructure associated with humanoid and advanced robotics, while CITIIN contributes to the learning, training and adaptation of the humanoid robot to real industrial scenarios. NM3D Ibérica contributes the industrial metrology perspective, exploring how these systems can support inspection, handling, traceability and quality data integration processes.
Metrology facing a new industrial challenge
Industry has evolved rapidly in areas such as automation, robotics, digitalisation and data integration. However, in many companies, metrology continues to operate as a separate stage within the production process.
Frequently, a part leaves the production line, is transported to a metrology room, manually prepared, positioned on a measuring system, measured, analysed and only then is the information returned to the industrial process.
This workflow may be technically rigorous, but it is not always agile enough to meet the current demands of industry.
The challenge is no longer simply to measure with greater accuracy. The challenge is to better integrate measurement into the production workflow, reducing non-productive time, increasing traceability and ensuring that quality data reaches decision-making systems sooner.
VIRIATO: a physical interface between part, equipment and data
During the presentation, NM3D Ibérica introduced VIRIATO as a practical representation of a new interface between the physical part, metrology equipment, digital systems and industrial decision-making processes.
Humanoid robotics offers a significant advantage in industrial and laboratory environments because many of these spaces were originally designed for people. Walkways, workbenches, doors, controls, tools, workstations and laboratory equipment all follow human dimensions and interaction logic.
Unlike a fixed robotic cell, a humanoid robot can, in certain applications, operate within existing environments, move between different areas, interact with equipment and support handling, preparation and positioning tasks.
According to NM3D Ibérica’s vision, the humanoid does not replace metrology, nor does it replace the specialist. Its role is complementary: supporting repetitive tasks, facilitating physical process integration and allowing technical teams to focus on higher-value activities such as analysis, validation and continuous improvement.
MAHIA: a technological vision for autonomous metrology
The presentation also developed the technological vision associated with the MAHIA concept – Autonomous Metrology using Humanoids and Aerial Integration.
The focus presented by NM3D Ibérica was entirely technical and industrial: how logistics, handling, measurement and data can be integrated into a more continuous workflow.
Within this model, measurement does not begin only when the part arrives at the laboratory. It begins when the system identifies an inspection requirement. From that point onward, the workflow may include part identification, collection, transportation, preparation, handling, positioning, measurement, dimensional analysis and feedback of information to production.
The objective is to reduce fragmentation between production, logistics, metrology and data management, creating a more integrated, traceable process that is closer to industrial reality.
Integration with industrial metrology technologies
NM3D Ibérica works with an ecosystem of technologies dedicated to dimensional inspection and industrial quality control, including Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs), industrial computed tomography (CT), 3D scanners, optical metrology systems, dimensional inspection solutions and analysis software.
Humanoid robotics can add a physical layer of integration to this ecosystem. Rather than viewing metrology solely as an isolated laboratory operation, the proposal is to consider measurement as part of a continuous industrial workflow.
This approach makes it possible to envision processes in which measuring equipment, humanoid robots, inspection software and industrial systems work together in a coordinated manner.
Potential benefits for industry
Among the potential benefits are the reduction of non-productive time associated with waiting, transportation and preparation activities, increased availability of high-value metrology equipment, improved traceability, stronger integration between quality and production systems, and greater flexibility for short production runs and variable product references.
The proposal is not based on absolute promises, but rather on a progressive and industrially realistic vision: identify specific use cases, validate the workflow, integrate the humanoid, connect the data and scale only when value has been clearly demonstrated.
A progressive path towards metrological autonomy
NM3D Ibérica believes that the adoption of this type of technology should be carried out progressively.
The first step is to identify a specific use case: a part, a process, a piece of equipment and a clear opportunity for improvement. Next, it is necessary to define the physical and digital workflow, map the environment, integrate the humanoid, connect the data and validate the system under real operating conditions.
Only after successful validation does it make sense to move towards large-scale deployment.
For NM3D Ibérica, the future of metrology is not simply about measuring better. It is about integrating measurement more effectively into the reality of production.
Quality data should not arrive too late. Measurement should not operate in isolation. And dimensional information should become an active tool for improving industrial processes.
The future of metrology is autonomous, connected and at the heart of production.
To learn more about NM3D Ibérica’s solutions in industrial metrology, 3D inspection, industrial computed tomography and technology integration, please contact our team: