Humanoid robots can fit into existing environments without extensive adaption. And humans have legs.
Irrelevant in a factory, where you can adapt things as much as you like - but crucial if you envisage people sending robots to environments they don't own - like a robot carer helping Grandma go to the store.
Needless to say, the profitable applications for this aren't especially short-term, so the ROI for this research is hard to predict.
I'm sure that's the case where you live, but where I live our public transport isn't 100% disabled-accessible.
If you prefer, you can substitute "Like a robot delivery driver, who must deliver to flats without lifts" or "Like a robot cop, chasing truant teens through a mall" [1]
Irrelevant in a factory, where you can adapt things as much as you like - but crucial if you envisage people sending robots to environments they don't own - like a robot carer helping Grandma go to the store.
Needless to say, the profitable applications for this aren't especially short-term, so the ROI for this research is hard to predict.