China, already a global leader in electric vehicles, is now setting its sights on revolutionizing industrial automation with battery-powered humanoid robots. At the World Robot Conference in Beijing, over two dozen Chinese companies showcased their latest humanoid robots, designed to work in factories and warehouses, while others displayed precision parts essential for their production.
This burgeoning industry mirrors China's approach to the electric vehicle (EV) sector more than a decade ago, characterized by robust government support, fierce price competition, and a well-integrated supply chain. "China's humanoid robot industry demonstrates clear advantages in supply-chain integration (and) mass production capabilities," said Arjen Rao, an analyst at the China-based LeadLeo Research Institute.
The Chinese government is backing this effort with significant investments. Beijing launched a $1.4 billion state-backed fund for robotics in January, and Shanghai announced plans for a similar $1.4 billion humanoid industry fund in July. This push aligns with President Xi Jinping's policy of developing "new productive forces" in technology, a theme prominently featured at this week's event.
Companies like Shanghai Kepler Exploration Robotics are at the forefront of this movement. Inspired by Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, the company is rapidly iterating its designs, with the fifth version of its worker robot already in development. CEO Hu Debo expects the sales price to be less than $30,000, underscoring China's expertise in reducing production costs. "China specializes in fast iteration and production," Hu noted.
Tesla's Optimus robot, first introduced in 2021, has spurred competition in China much like its EVs did. While Tesla continues to lead in artificial intelligence, Chinese companies are quickly closing the gap by focusing on cost-effective production. At the Beijing conference, Tesla's Optimus, displayed alongside the Cybertruck, drew significant attention despite being outshone by more animated Chinese humanoids. Tesla reiterated its plan to move beyond prototypes and start producing Optimus in small volumes next year.
Hong Kong-listed UBTECH Robotics is also making strides in this space, testing its robots in car factories like Geely and recently announcing a deal with an Audi plant in China. "By next year, our goal is going to mass manufacturing," said Sotirios Stasinopoulos, UBTECH's project manager. The company plans to deploy up to 1,000 robots in factories, marking a significant step toward large-scale deployment.
China is already a global leader in the use of factory-installed production robots, outpacing North America by more than threefold, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The country aims to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025, though this will initially be on a much smaller scale than required to transform EV production. "I believe that it is likely to be at least 20 to 30 years before humanoid robots can achieve large-scale commercial application," said Rao from LeadLeo Research Institute.
As China continues to dominate in industrial automation, its push into humanoid robotics could reshape global manufacturing, just as it did with electric vehicles.
(Source:www.business-standard.com)
This burgeoning industry mirrors China's approach to the electric vehicle (EV) sector more than a decade ago, characterized by robust government support, fierce price competition, and a well-integrated supply chain. "China's humanoid robot industry demonstrates clear advantages in supply-chain integration (and) mass production capabilities," said Arjen Rao, an analyst at the China-based LeadLeo Research Institute.
The Chinese government is backing this effort with significant investments. Beijing launched a $1.4 billion state-backed fund for robotics in January, and Shanghai announced plans for a similar $1.4 billion humanoid industry fund in July. This push aligns with President Xi Jinping's policy of developing "new productive forces" in technology, a theme prominently featured at this week's event.
Companies like Shanghai Kepler Exploration Robotics are at the forefront of this movement. Inspired by Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, the company is rapidly iterating its designs, with the fifth version of its worker robot already in development. CEO Hu Debo expects the sales price to be less than $30,000, underscoring China's expertise in reducing production costs. "China specializes in fast iteration and production," Hu noted.
Tesla's Optimus robot, first introduced in 2021, has spurred competition in China much like its EVs did. While Tesla continues to lead in artificial intelligence, Chinese companies are quickly closing the gap by focusing on cost-effective production. At the Beijing conference, Tesla's Optimus, displayed alongside the Cybertruck, drew significant attention despite being outshone by more animated Chinese humanoids. Tesla reiterated its plan to move beyond prototypes and start producing Optimus in small volumes next year.
Hong Kong-listed UBTECH Robotics is also making strides in this space, testing its robots in car factories like Geely and recently announcing a deal with an Audi plant in China. "By next year, our goal is going to mass manufacturing," said Sotirios Stasinopoulos, UBTECH's project manager. The company plans to deploy up to 1,000 robots in factories, marking a significant step toward large-scale deployment.
China is already a global leader in the use of factory-installed production robots, outpacing North America by more than threefold, according to the International Federation of Robotics. The country aims to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025, though this will initially be on a much smaller scale than required to transform EV production. "I believe that it is likely to be at least 20 to 30 years before humanoid robots can achieve large-scale commercial application," said Rao from LeadLeo Research Institute.
As China continues to dominate in industrial automation, its push into humanoid robotics could reshape global manufacturing, just as it did with electric vehicles.
(Source:www.business-standard.com)
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