Japan Airlines trials humanoid robots for ground handling, which will transport cargo on the tarmac at Haneda Airport

Japan Airlines (JAL) will launch a field test of humanoid robots at Tokyo Haneda Airport in May, with Unitree G1 and UBTECH Walker E responsible for cargo container handling. The testing is scheduled to run until 2028. Long-term goals include cabin cleaning and ground support equipment operation to address labor shortages caused by the surge in visitors to Japan. (Previous coverage: Imagining the Robotics Industry: The Evolutionary Convergence of Automation, AI, and Web3) (Background supplement: I surrender, AI robots have won) Humanoid robots, standing about 1.3 meters tall and weighing 35 kilograms, are set to handle cargo containers on the tarmac at Tokyo Haneda Airport. This is part of a field test program that Japan Airlines (JAL) plans to officially launch in May 2026. The driving force behind this is straightforward: the number of visitors to Japan has risen rapidly in recent years, while the labor gap in airport ground services has become increasingly difficult to fill. JAL's response is to delegate tasks to humanoid robots capable of walking on two legs. According to JAL's official press release, this field test is led by JAL's subsidiary, JAL Ground Service, in collaboration with GMO AI & Robotics Corporation, with the testing period scheduled from May 2026 to 2028. Two robot models will be deployed: the G1 from China's Unitree and the Walker E from UBTECH. Specifications for the G1 show a standing size of approximately 1,320 × 450 × 200mm and a weight of about 35 kilograms. While lighter than an adult, its size is sufficient for operation in general work environments. The initial test project focuses on cargo container handling. JAL specifically noted in its announcement that this phase will not involve handling passenger luggage directly; starting with cargo operations, which have relatively fixed structures, is a pragmatic choice to reduce testing risks. The long-term goals are broader: cabin cleaning and the operation of ground support equipment such as luggage carts are included in the roadmap. If the tests are successful, seeing robots working on the tarmac at Haneda Airport before 2028 is not impossible. Factories and warehouses already use robots extensively, but these are typically robotic arms fixed to specific workstations or Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) moving along fixed paths. Their common characteristics are predictable environments and repetitive tasks. The situation in airport ground services is the opposite. Movement paths on the tarmac are complex, cargo shapes and weights vary, and unexpected situations occur frequently. Deploying traditional specialized robots would almost certainly require significant modifications to the workspace, with cost and time being major issues. JAL's objective is to have robots adapt to the human environment, rather than forcing the environment to accommodate the robots. Humanoid robots were chosen precisely because they are designed to move within human workspaces: climbing stairs, opening doors, and operating tools designed for human hands are all within their capabilities (at least in theory). This field test also aims to verify one thing: can humanoid robots equipped with the latest AI models truly adapt to an open, dynamic work environment like an airport without large-scale site modifications? Humanoid robots are not a new concept, but operating stably in a real-world work environment is another matter. Over the past few years, robots like Tesla Optimus, Figure AI, and Boston Dynamics Atlas have been unveiled and have undergone experimental deployments in car factories and warehouses. However, most public demonstrations still take place in controlled environments, and true large-scale commercialization has yet to arrive. The significance of JAL's field test lies in the fact that an airport is a highly complex environment with real commercial pressures. It cannot be managed as completely as a warehouse, nor is every process as highly standardized as in a factory. If the Unitree G1 and UBTECH Walker E can deliver viable results in the Haneda Airport tests, it will be a more convincing data point for the entire humanoid robotics industry than factory pilots. The testing will continue until 2028, and the results will take time to verify.