Humanoid robot actuators, North America
Sample reportPage 1 of 6
Sample sourcing studyOctober 21, 2026

Humanoid robot actuators, North America

Make Resolved lead, Harmonic second source, Lin fallback.

97,000 sq ft 42
Beverly, MA
Harmonic: Moved to a newly built 97,000 sq ft facility5
Sites in the US
Headquarters
Also:ResolvedLinKeep
  • Headquarters
    Also:ResolvedLinKeep
  • 97,000 sq ft 42Beverly, MA Harmonic: Moved to a newly built 97,000 sq ft facility5
the five ranked suppliers
1Lead
Resolved
2Second source
Harmonic
3On hold
US Actuator
4Fallback
Lin
5Watch
Keep
The answer

Send the RFQ to all three, starting with Resolved.

Second-source Harmonic Drive LLC, whose ISO 9001 Massachusetts plant offsets Resolved Motion’s missing certificate. No ISO 9001 certificate was found for Resolved Motion or US Actuator. Harmonic Drive’s Beverly plant is ISO 9001 and AS9100 registered.1–4

Who gets the RFQ

Three suppliers, led by Resolved.
  1. Lead
    Resolved
    This is the closest fit: the supplier builds humanoid joint actuators at its own US plant.1–3
    20 of 20
  2. Second source
    Harmonic
    An established US actuator and gear supplier that can back up the lead.7–8
    18 of 20
  3. Fallback
    Lin
    Offers humanoid joint motors and integrated joints from a California base.9–10
    15 of 20
Watch
Resolved’s lead rests on 4 points that come from one website each; without them it scores 16, below Harmonic.1

Key messages

  1. 1
    Resolved names the most customers (3); US Actuator next (1).
    p. 3
  2. 2
    Five risks to manage; one applies to every bidder.
    p. 6

Next steps

Five steps, starting with the RFQ to Resolved, Harmonic and Lin.
  1. 1
    Send an RFQ to Resolved Motion asking for ISO 9001 status, joint specs and OEM slot capacity.
  2. 2
    Ask Harmonic Drive LLC to quote servo actuators for humanoid joints and confirm the build site.
  3. 3
    Ask Lin Engineering where DriveCore joints are built and what US volume it can take.
  4. 4
    Phone US Actuator, because its web form is not live, and ask about production timing.
  5. 5
    Attach the 8 open questions (p. 6) to the RFQ.
Humanoid robot actuators, North America · The answerSample report · 2
Scorecard

Resolved scores 20 of 20; Harmonic 18.

HQWeighted totalof 20; by criterion
1Lead
USA
20
8+8+4
2Second source
Beverly, MA
18
6+8+4
3On hold
Austin, TX
18
8+8+2
4Fallback
USA
15
6+6+3
5Watch
Canada
3
2+0+1
Humanoid actuators
48 pts
36 pts
48 pts
36 pts
12 pts
Industries served
Humanoid robots +7 more1
Robotics, Motion control +7 more4
Humanoid robotics +9 more11–12
Medical devices +9 more13–14
Automotive +5 more15
North America plant
48 pts
48 pts
48 pts
36 pts
00 pts
Sites
one per city
Upstate New York plant1–3Q2
1site7–8
HQ Beverly
1site16
HQ Austin
Morgan Hill CA; offshore volume9–10, 13Q2
Address in Luzinay, France17Q2
In-house build
44 pts
44 pts
22 pts
33 pts
11 pt
Resolved names the most customers (3); US Actuator next (1).
Processes
5processes1
precision actuator manufacturing…
13processes6, 18
strain wave gear manufacturing…
9processes11, 16, 19
final assembly, coil winding
10processes14, 20
motor design, prototyping
9processes15, 21
electric motor design, design and…
Finishing in-house
Own plant, CMM reports1Q3
4finishing ops6, 18
assembly, testingQ3
2finishing ops11, 16
Final assembly, Quality assuranceQ3
In-house assembly, Northern California20Q3
Relies on mechanical partners15Q3
Before award
the condition to meet
One page names a Peabody plant, which conflicts with Beverly7–8
High volume is built offshore. Its MOONS ownership dates conflict between sources.9–10

Each supplier scored 0–4 per criterion against a published rule; the two asks in your brief count double. The rules, the facts behind every score and the numbered sources are in the online appendix.

Grey: a figure for something else (a group’s, an estimate) or part of an answer
Q2: an open question for the RFQ
Humanoid robot actuators, North America · ScorecardSample report · 3
Supplier profiles

Resolved

Resolved Motion · resolvedmotion.com
Lead
Supplier profile · 1 of 3

This is the closest fit: the supplier builds humanoid joint actuators at its own US plant.1–3

Makes rotary and linear actuators for humanoid robots and dexterous hands.1–2

Plant in Upstate New York.1–3

31
Named customers
40-60 joints per platform, dedicated production…
ISO 90011
Certificates
Processes
Precision actuator manufacturing, Rotary actuator manufacturing · +3 more1

References

40-60 joints per platform
The site states that 40 to 60 joints go into each humanoid platform1
dedicated production slots for OEM partners
The site says it holds dedicated production slots for OEM partners1
commercial robotics OEMs, defense and government
Resolved Motion says it serves commercial robotics platform integrators, and also defense partnerships and domestic supplier evaluations1

Strengths

  • In-house build: makes actuators at one plant and ships every unit with a CMM report1

Recent news

  • Oct 21, 2026
    Resolved Motion’s RM-RCL cycloidal actuator line reported in early production3

Company channels

Website
resolvedmotion.com
RFQ page
resolvedmotion.com
Email
info@resolvedmotion.com
Every score for Resolved, and the facts behind it, is in the online appendix.
Humanoid robot actuators, North America · Supplier profilesSample report · 4
Supplier profiles

Harmonic and Lin

Harmonic Drive LLC · harmonicdrive.net
Second source
Supplier profile · 2 of 3

An established US actuator and gear supplier that can back up the lead.7–8

Most products sold in the US are made in Massachusetts.7–8

Headquarters and plant on one site.7–8

1456
People
Processes
Strain wave gear manufacturing, precision servo actuator assembly · +4 more6, 18
Head office in Beverly, MA.7–8

Strengths

  • Humanoid actuators: precision servo actuators and gearheads; humanoid robots named among its robotics uses4

Watch-outs

  • One page names a Peabody plant, which conflicts with Beverly. Confirm where the actuators are built7–8

Company channels

Website
harmonicdrive.net
RFQ page
harmonicdrive.net
Email
marketing@harmonicdrive.net
Phone
978-532-1800
Every score for Harmonic, and the facts behind it, is in the online appendix.
Lin Engineering · linengineering.com
Fallback
Supplier profile · 3 of 3

Offers humanoid joint motors and integrated joints from a California base.9–10

Based in Morgan Hill, California.9–10

Confirm whether US or offshore plants build humanoid joints.9–10

$100m22
Revenue
Processes
Motor design, prototyping, motor manufacturing, Frameless BLDC torque motors · +2 more14, 20

References

robotics OEMs (unnamed)
Lin says it has supplied motors at the core of robotic systems worldwide for more than 30 years14

Strengths

  • North America plant: California site does low to mid volume; high volume goes to offshore plants9–10, 13

Watch-outs

  • High volume is built offshore. Its MOONS ownership dates conflict between sources9–10

Company channels

Website
linengineering.com
RFQ page
linengineering.com/about/contact-us
Email
sales@linengineering.com
Phone
+1 (408) 919-0200
Every score for Lin, and the facts behind it, is in the online appendix.
Humanoid robot actuators, North America · Supplier profilesSample report · 5
Risks

Five risks to manage; one applies to every bidder.

Exhibit 1
Five risks to manage before award.
Each risk and the suppliers it affects
RiskAffects
1
No ISO 9001 or other certificate was found, and the site names no customers.1
Resolved
2
Not yet in broad production. Its quote form is not connected to a live inbox.16, 23
US Actuator
3
China supplies about 70% of humanoid components and faces a 24.3 percent effective tariff.24–25
Every bidder
4
Harmonic: the site does not state press tonnage, casting, alloys or the largest part size. Those fields are left empty.4
Harmonic
5
No ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, ISO 13485 or ISO 14001 certificate was found on Keep Motion’s website or in two searches. Certificate fields are left empty.26
Keep

Source: resolvedmotion.com [1]; linkedin.com [4]; usactuator.com [16, 23]; articsledge.com [24]; upenn.edu [25]; keep-motion.com [26]

Open questions for the RFQ

Seven questions for the RFQ, by supplier.

One more question, for US Actuator, is in the online appendix.

For every bidder3 questions
  1. 1
    Confirm in writing: ISO 9001.
    Why: Your brief requires it.
  2. 2
    Ask every bidder for its sites, by city.
    Why: Decides North America plant, one of the criteria that count double.
  3. 3
    Ask every bidder which finishing steps it does in-house.
    Why: Decides in-house build.
Resolved
1 question
  1. 4
    ISO 9001 status, plant capacity, OEM production slots and customer references.
    Why: Needed before award.
Harmonic
1 question
  1. 5
    Which servo actuators suit humanoid joints, and whether they are built in Beverly or Peabody.
    Why: Decides Humanoid actuators, one of the criteria that count double.
Lin
2 questions
  1. 7
    Whether DriveCore joints are built in Morgan Hill or offshore.
    Why: Needed before award.
  2. 8
    Send the renewed AS9100D with ISO 9001:2015 (earlier…) certificate.
    Why: The certificate on file expired Oct 2021.
Humanoid robot actuators, North America · Risks and Open questions for the RFQSample report · 6

Online appendix: the open questions, scoring rules, evidence and sources. On screen only; the PDF has the pages above.

Open questions for the RFQ

One more question for US Actuator.

US Actuator
1 question
  1. 6
    Production readiness, quality certificates and a working sales contact.
    Why: Needed before award.
Appendix A · Scoring rules

How the scorecard was scored

Each supplier scores 0–4 per criterion against these rules; p. 8 shows the evidence.

CriterionLooked at
Humanoid actuators

Counts double.

Industries served
North America plant

Counts double.

Sites
In-house build
Processes, Finishing in-house

Each supplier scores 0–4 per criterion, 4 the best. On a cost or risk criterion, 4 means the least cost or risk.

Weighted total: the two asks in your brief count double; the most a supplier can score is 20.

A cell nothing backs is left unscored, never counted as zero.

Online only · Open questions for the RFQ and Appendix A · Scoring rulesSample report · 7
Appendix A · Evidence

What is behind each score

Score, the facts behind it and their numbered sources (Appendix B, p. 11).

1Lead
Resolved
2Second source
Harmonic
3On hold
US Actuator
4Fallback
Lin
5Watch
Keep
Humanoid actuators
Counts double.
48 pts
Rotary and linear actuators for humanoid joints, hands and hips.1–2
36 ptsQ5
Precision servo actuators and gearheads; humanoid robots named among its robotics uses.4
48 pts
RJ rotary and LX linear actuators; humanoid robotics is the main design driver.11, 19
36 pts
Integrated robotic joints, direct drive or strain wave geared, for humanoid platforms.14
12 pts
Lists embedded electromechanical actuators and robotics as a sector; nothing for humanoids.15
North America plant
Counts double.
48 ptsQ2
NDAA-compliant actuators built in Upstate New York, solely for robotics.1–3
48 pts
Most products sold in the US are made at its Massachusetts plant.4, 7–8
48 pts
Final assembly, winding and QA happen at its Austin, Texas facility.11
36 ptsQ2
California site does low to mid volume; high volume goes to offshore plants.9–10, 13
00 ptsQ2
Its only listed address is in France, not in North America.17
In-house build
44 ptsQ3
Makes actuators at one plant and ships every unit with a CMM report.1
44 ptsQ3
Plant has gear production, clean rooms, test labs and assembly rooms.6
22 ptsQ3
Lines set up for prototype and early production; works with early design partners.16
33 ptsQ3
Assembles and produces in-house in Northern California, prototypes to volume.20
11 ptQ3
Production runs through mechanical partners; no plant of its own is described.15
Weighted total208+8+4186+8+4188+8+2156+6+332+0+1
Online only · Appendix A · EvidenceSample report · 8
Appendix A · Method and long list

How the study was run

On October 21, 2026, the study read 193 web pages in 31 min and checked 18 findings on a second website.

Exhibit 2
23 found, 5 ranked.
Companies at each stage
23Found
17Fit the brief
17Researched in depth
5Ranked
CompanyTypeHomeReason
Ranked (5)
Resolved Motion1High-precision…US
Lead: its site says it manufactures high-precision rotary and linear actuators for humanoid robots from a plant in…
Harmonic Drive LLC27Designs and makes…Beverly, US
Second source: beverly, MA maker of servo actuators, gear units and strain wave gear sets, sold for robots. Its own…
US Actuator11Rotary joint…Austin, US
On hold: its site says it designs and assembles rotary joint and roller-screw linear actuators in Austin, TX, USA, with…
Lin Engineering14Motors…US
Fallback: mainly a motor maker. Its humanoid page offers DriveCore integrated robotic joints with motor and gearing…
Keep Motion15Electric motors…Canada
Watch: canadian maker of motors, generators and electromechanical actuators, with design and prototyping…
Researched in depth, not ranked (12)
Allient Inc.28Designer…
Motion products maker, but actuator build and location not confirmed.
Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Inc.29Electromechanical…US
Beaver Aerospace & Defense builds certified electromechanical actuators for aerospace. It has no…
Creative Motion Control30Planetary roller…US
US maker of planetary roller screws and electric linear actuators. Its page says the roller screws are designed and…
LINAK US31US arm of Danish…Blue Grass, US
US final assembly of linear actuators, but these are not humanoid joint actuators.
Mack Molding Co.32Robotics contract…
Its robotics page says it does electromechanical and motor/actuator assembly for humanoids, with US plants in…
Moog33Customized high…US
Makes roller screw components, not full actuator assemblies; plant location unconfirmed.
Online only · Appendix A · Method and long listSample report · 9
Appendix A · Method and long list · continued

How the study was run

CompanyTypeHomeReason
Researched in depth, not ranked (12), continued
PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.34Manufacturer…Auburn, US
US maker of precision piezo and positioning actuators; poor fit for humanoid joints.
Sanhua Intelligent Controls (Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls)35China
Sanhua is reported to be building actuator capacity in Mexico, but it denied the reported Tesla order. It is…
Sumitomo Drive Technologies Mexico (SM Cyclo de México, S.A. de C.V.)36Assembles…Monterrey
Mexico plant with ISO 9001:2015, but makes gear reducers, not actuator assemblies.
THK America, Inc.29Custom…US
Lead’s note says it makes custom servo actuators with integrated motor, gearhead and sensor for robot joints in…
Tolomatic37High-force electric…US
No website link given and we could not open a homepage. Brief says it makes high-force electric linear actuators with…
Venture (Sparta, Wisconsin)31Actuator maker…Sparta, US
Lead’s note says it co-engineers custom actuators, gearmotors and lead screws in Sparta, Wisconsin. No…
Did not fit the brief (6)
Compami Maquinados38Machining shop…Querétaro
Querétaro machining shop for CNC parts, fixtures and steel structures. Not an actuator assembler. Possible…
Humanoid Joint39Integrated…
Site lists a China factory base and a China phone number; no North American plant is named.
Rotork (Houston facility)31UK-headquartered…Houston, US
Houston site serves valve actuators, not humanoid or electromechanical robot actuators.
SANDOROBOTICS40Says it does robot…Mexico
Mexico City online shop and robotics retailer. Its site sells parts, kits, cables and sensors. It does not show it makes…
Suzhou Green Harmonic (Green Harmonic)35Suzhou, China
Makes harmonic reducers, not full actuator assemblies. Mexico factory claim is unconfirmed secondary source.
Techrobots (Techsoft Robots)41Humanoid robot…
Site gives a Shenzhen, China address; no North American plant is named.
Online only · Appendix A · Method and long listSample report · 10
Appendix B · Sources

Numbered sources

Superscript numbers in the text and bracketed numbers in source lines point here.

  1. 1
    Resolved Motion company website (resolvedmotion.com) — resolvedmotion.com, 2026-10-21
    resolvedmotion.com
    40–60 joints per platform.
  2. 2
    x.com
    x.com/resolvedmotion
    We manufacture NDAA-compliant, dual-use actuators in Upstate New York solely for robotics.
  3. 3
    SUNY New Paltz Hudson Valley Venture Hub, October 2026 newsletter — newpaltz.edu, 2026-10-21
    newpaltz.edu/schoolofbusiness/hvventurehub/newsletter/article/october-2026/meet-the-teams--judges
    Resolved Motion designs and manufactures high-precision actuators for humanoid robots, legged robots, and autonomous ground systems in Upstate New York.
  4. 4
    linkedin.com
    linkedin.com/company/harmonic-drive-llc
    Robotics: Industrial, Semiconductor & Flat Panel, Humanoid, Mobile Robots
  5. 5
    automate.org
    automate.org/news/harmonic-drive-llc-opens-new-us-headquarters-in-beverly-ma
    Originally a division of United Shoe Machinery Corp., Harmonic Drive designs and manufactures motion control products
  6. 6
    therobotreport.com
    therobotreport.com/rbr50-company/harmonic-drive-opens-a-new-manufacturing-and-rd-facility
    Number of Employees: 145
  7. 7
    roboticstomorrow.com
    roboticstomorrow.com/company_directory/harmonic-drive-llc/10574
    Harmonic Drive's launch of the LPA 20 integrated servo actuator strengthens the company's position as a top supplier of surgical robotic motion control components
  8. 8
    thomasnet.com
    thomasnet.com/company/harmonic-drive-llc-10046863/profile
    Harmonic Drive LLC Contact: Colleen Anderson Marketing Manager 978-573-3427 marketing@harmonicdrive.net
  1. 9
    buzzfile.com
    buzzfile.com/business/Lin-Engineering,-Inc.-408-919-0200
    Lin Engineering is located in Morgan Hill, California.
  2. 10
    linengineering.com
    linengineering.com/about/contact-us
    ADDRESS: 16245 Vineyard Blvd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
  3. 11
    US Actuator company homepage — usactuator.com, 2026-10-21
    usactuator.com
    Final assembly, winding, and QA performed at our Austin, TX facility
  4. 12
    usactuator.com
    usactuator.com/applications.html
    Flight control surface actuation and ground robotics engineered to MIL-spec vibration, thermal, and duty-cycle requirements.
  5. 13
    linengineering.com
    linengineering.com/about/about-us
    Our Northern California facility is optimized for low to mid volume production, while our off-shore facilities are optimized for high volume production
  6. 14
    linengineering.com
    linengineering.com/applications/humanoid-robots
    Size range: 40 mm to 160 mm outer diameter
  7. 15
    Keep Motion - Home page — keep-motion.com, 2026-10-21
    keep-motion.com/en/home-en
    Keep’Motion designs and develops specific and dedicated motor-driven solutions, a new offer in terms of services, expertise and test equipment.
  8. 16
    US Actuator About page — usactuator.com, 2026-10-21
    usactuator.com/about.html
    Working directly with humanoid robotics and industrial automation OEMs on joint-level integration ahead of broader production availability.
Online only · Appendix B · SourcesSample report · 11
Appendix B · Sources · continued

Numbered sources

  1. 17
    keep-motion.com
    keep-motion.com/en/contact-en
    ZA de la NOYEREE III, 38 200 LUZINAY
  2. 18
    harmonicdrive.net
    harmonicdrive.net/careers
    Experience with Okuma, Mori Seiki, Haas, Mazak, or similar CNC equipment.
  3. 19
    US Actuator products page — usactuator.com, 2026-10-20
    usactuator.com/products.html
    LX Series — Linear Roller-Screw Actuator Flagship
  4. 20
    linengineering.com
    linengineering.com/about/global-footprint
    1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space across eight facilities, including additional locations in Europe and Asia
  5. 21
    cara.eu
    cara.eu/en/member/keepmotion
    Created in 2010, Keep'Motion is a company specialized in the design and sizing of specific and dedicated powertrains: Electrical Machines and Electromechanical Actuators.
  6. 22
    leadiq.com
    leadiq.com/c/lin-engineering---motor-specialists-in-motion/5a1d841424000024005e94b2
    annual revenue is estimated to be $100M - $250M
  7. 23
    US Actuator contact page — usactuator.com, 2026-10-20
    usactuator.com/contact.html
    This is a static demo form and is not yet connected to a live inbox
  8. 24
    articsledge.com
    articsledge.com/post/ai-humanoid-robots
    China controls approximately 70% of the global supply chain for humanoid robot components
  9. 25
    upenn.edu
    budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/p/2026-10-14-effective-tariff-rates-and-revenues-updated-october-14-2026
    standing at 81.4 percent in aggregate as of August 2026
  10. 26
    keep-motion.com
    keep-motion.com/en/research-and-development-en
    KeepMotion integrates a modular test bench capable of carrying out tests on electric motors under load, for powers ranging from 0 to 300 kW.
  1. 27
    surgicalroboticstechnology.com
    surgicalroboticstechnology.com/company/harmonic-drive-llc
  2. 28
    automate.org
    automate.org/motion-control/company-industry-news
  3. 29
    thomasnet.com
    thomasnet.com/suppliers/usa/robotic-actuators-340703
  4. 30
    creativemotioncontrol.com
    creativemotioncontrol.com/linear-actuator-products/planetary-roller-screw
  5. 31
    valen-tech.com
    valen-tech.com/top-15-actuator-companies-in-the-usa-2025.html
  6. 32
    mack.com
    mack.com/markets/robotics
    With six North American facilities and 120+ injection molding presses
  7. 33
    moog.com
    moog.com/products/screws/planetary-roller-screws.html
  8. 34
    thomasnet.com
    thomasnet.com/articles/top-suppliers/actuator-manufacturers-companies
  9. 35
    androidshow.com
    en.androidshow.com/list_72/195.html
  10. 36
    mexicoindustry.com
    mexicoindustry.com/hecho-en-mexico/sumitomo-drive-technologies-30-anos-fabricando-el-corazon-que-mueve-la-industria-de-mexico
  11. 37
    tolomatic.com
    tolomatic.com/info-center/educational/roller-screw-high-force-linear-actuators
  12. 38
    cpm-maquinados.com
    cpm-maquinados.com
  13. 39
    humanoidjoint.com
    humanoidjoint.com
  14. 40
    sandorobotics.com.mx
    sandorobotics.com.mx
  15. 41
    techsoft-robots.com
    techsoft-robots.com/en
Online only · Appendix B · SourcesSample report · 12