Yoshi Umeno is the Global Director of Business Development for Robotics at Kollmorgen, a Regal Rexnord brand, with a dedicated focus on humanoid robotics. He brings a deep understanding of motion control for humanoids, spanning actuators, motors, drives, precision components, and system-level performance, and has extensive experience servicing and partnering with leading humanoid OEMs globally.
This presentation addresses the central challenge facing humanoid robot OEMs today: the gap between a working prototype and a manufacturable, scalable product. While software iterates in weeks, motion hardware moves from paper to functional sample in months and to volume production in years. That mismatch—not concept design—is the real bottleneck. By reframing humanoid motion as a zone-by-zone architecture problem rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the presentation outlines the unique demands of each body zone and the challenges of scaling for production. It also provides a practical framework for evaluating motion partners, highlighting comprehensive solutions and co-engineering support to simplify the path from prototype to volume production.
