What are the advantages of humanoid robots compared to other robot forms in dangerous environments such as disaster relief and space exploration?

Hey, regarding this question, I'd like to share my thoughts. It's quite interesting why we put so much effort into making robots look like humans, especially for extreme environments like disaster relief and space.

To put it simply, the core advantage boils down to one sentence: because almost everything in the world we live in is designed for humans.

Think about it: what does a robot face when it enters these dangerous environments?

1. Perfect Adaptation to "Human" Environments

In disaster zones (e.g., a city after an earthquake) or on space stations, the environment is far from a flat, open space.

Complex Terrain: There are ruins, rubble, and collapsed furniture everywhere. Wheeled or tracked robots can easily get stuck. Humanoid robots can step over, walk through, or even climb using all four limbs if necessary, just like a human.
Standardized "Obstacles": Stairs, ladders, doors. These are nightmares for wheels, but for humanoid robots, they are precisely what they are designed to overcome. They can open doors and climb stairs just like us, instead of needing a ramp or having to dismantle the door.

For example, if you send a robot vacuum cleaner into earthquake rubble to rescue people, it might not even be able to get through the front door. But a humanoid robot can push open a door, walk over scattered bricks, and climb stairs to check the second floor.

2. Directly Using "Human" Tools

This is a huge advantage. In any work scenario, whether it's a factory on Earth or a space station in outer space, all tools are designed for human hands and bodies.

During Disaster Relief: It might need to drill a hole, use a wrench to close a valve, or pick up a piece of wood to prop something up.
During Space Exploration: Astronauts performing extravehicular repairs also use various screwdrivers and pliers.

If it's an oddly shaped robot, like a robotic arm, it would have to change its end effector for every new task, which is very cumbersome. A humanoid robot, however, has a pair of flexible hands. Theoretically, it can directly pick up and use hammers, wrenches, and drills designed for humans without any modifications. This greatly enhances its versatility and task flexibility.

3. Intuitive Interaction and Collaboration

In dangerous environments, robots often don't work independently; they need to cooperate with humans.

Intuitiveness: Humanoid robots resemble human form, making their behavior easier for humans to understand and predict. When it "walks" towards a target or "reaches out" to grab something, nearby rescue workers or astronauts can immediately understand its intention.
Imitation Learning: You can teach it hands-on. For example, if you demonstrate the action of turning a valve, it can directly imitate and learn, which is much faster than programming it with code or controlling it with a joystick.
Collaboration: In space, an astronaut can say to a humanoid robot, "Hey, help me hold that panel," and the robot can extend its "hand" to assist like a colleague. The fluidity of this human-robot collaboration is unparalleled by other robot forms.

In summary:

It's less about how powerful humanoid robots are, and more about how much our world "favors" the human form. We've spent thousands of years building everything around us to be best suited for ourselves (bipedal, two-handed, upright-walking beings).

Therefore, when we need an agent to go into dangerous places we don't want to or can't go, sending a "stand-in" that looks and moves like us is naturally the most efficient and convenient choice. It can seamlessly integrate into the environments and tool systems we've created.

Of course, current technology is far from perfect; robot balance, strength, and flexibility are still developing. But the ultimate goal of this "humanoid" form is to make them effective assistants for us in any environment.