Hexagon, a global provider of precision measurement and digital reality technologies, has announced the launch of Aeon, a humanoid robot developed by its dedicated Robotics division. The launch took place at the company’s flagship event, Hexagon LIVE Global.
Aeon has been purpose-built to address pressing industry needs, including skilled labour shortages and the growing demand for automation. It integrates Hexagon’s advanced sensor technologies with cutting-edge locomotion, spatial intelligence, and AI-powered mission control.
Designed for industrial performance, Aeon is equipped to support a variety of applications—from asset inspection and reality capture to object manipulation and operator assistance. Its agility, awareness, and adaptability position it as a practical tool for sectors such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and logistics.
Ola Rollén, Chairman of Hexagon, commented:
“Hexagon’s legacy in precision measurement has always been about enabling autonomy. Aeon represents a significant step forward—an industrial-grade humanoid built to meet today’s challenges. It exemplifies our commitment to helping customers achieve sustainable growth amid shifting global demographics.”
Key Features of Aeon
- Agility: Combines high-precision dexterity with advanced locomotion, leveraging Hexagon’s proprietary sensor technology.
- Awareness: Uses multimodal sensor fusion and spatial reasoning to understand and adapt to its environment.
- Versatility: Supports a broad range of tasks, including object handling, inspection, digital twin creation, and teleoperation—trained end-to-end for task flexibility.
- Autonomy: Features a unique battery-swapping system, allowing continuous operation without recharging downtime.
Arnaud Robert, President of Hexagon’s Robotics division, stated:
“With Aeon, we’re applying physical AI to solve real-world challenges. Over the next six months, we’ll begin deploying Aeon in production settings, with broader commercial rollout to follow.”
To demonstrate real-world value, Hexagon is piloting Aeon with industry leaders Schaeffler and Pilatus. These deployments will test the robot’s capabilities in machine tending, part inspection, manipulation, and digital capture scenarios.
Roman Emmenegger, Vice President Manufacturing at Pilatus, said:
“Facing the unique challenges of Swiss manufacturing, Aeon offers a promising solution for maintaining our competitive edge. Its mobility, intelligence, and multifunctionality support automation and digitisation across our operations.”
Sebastian Jonas, Senior Vice President of Advanced Production Technology at Schaeffler, added:
“Humanoid robotics plays a key role in our transformation into a leading motion technology company. Collaborating with Hexagon on Aeon helps us explore the potential of next-gen automation in our factories.”
Technology Partnerships
Aeon is the result of collaboration with several technology leaders:
- Nvidia: Provides accelerated computing, Omniverse simulation, and Jetson edge AI platforms.
- Microsoft: Enables scalable development and AI training through Azure cloud services.
- maxon: Supplies next-generation actuators for efficient locomotion across varied environments.
With these partnerships and pilot programs in place, Aeon represents a bold step toward scalable, intelligent automation in industrial settings.
