A humanoid robot winks at the World Robot Conference 2024 in Beijing, China, on Aug. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) — Exhibiting a range of human-like behaviors, from making heart gestures to cooking meals and performing calligraphy, 27 different humanoid robots have become the highlight of the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing. These advanced robots are captivating audiences with their sophisticated interactions, underscoring China’s rapid progress in the global humanoid robot industry.
Over the years, technology powerhouses worldwide have vied to develop and deploy advanced humanoid robots. According to Goldman Sachs, the global market for these robots is projected to reach $154 billion by 2035, reflecting the sector’s burgeoning potential. Amidst this competitive landscape, China is emerging as a pivotal player, leveraging its robust industry chain, rich data resources, and supportive policies to make significant headway.
Historically, up until 2022, China’s humanoid robot industry was confined to basic research and technological accumulation, with most outputs being small educational robots or experimental full-sized models showcased at exhibitions. However, 2023 marked a turning point. The industry saw a dramatic surge, with its market size ballooning to 3.91 billion yuan (approximately $549 million), an 85.7 percent year-on-year increase, according to the China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID) under China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
In a notable development last month, the 5G smart factory of Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr onboarded its new “employees” – the Walker S Lite industrial humanoid robots developed by UBTECH Robotics Corp., Ltd. With the ability to carry up to 15 kg, these robots assist workers in handling work bins, enhancing operational efficiency. This smart factory is the fourth automobile plant collaborating with UBTECH in 2024, with previous integrations into the operations of NIO, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, and FAW-Volkswagen.
Industry insiders predict that 2024 will be an inflection point, transitioning humanoid robots from laboratory curiosities to integral components of industrial operations. “China boasts a large enough market and the world’s best industrial supply chain, which is very conducive to the large-scale production of cost-effective products,” said Jiao Jichao, vice president of UBTECH.
Data from Qichacha, a leading business data platform in China, reveals the nation is home to nearly 720,000 robot-related enterprises, with more than 20 companies currently producing complete humanoid robot products. This expansive market presence positions China at a competitive parity with developed nations in the humanoid robot arena, according to Zhong Xinlong, an AI expert at CCID Consulting.
Additionally, as of July, China holds over 190,000 effective robot-related patents, constituting about two-thirds of the global total, stated Xin Guobin, vice minister of the MIIT, at the World Robot Conference. A report by a research institute under People.cn confirmed China’s leading position in humanoid robot technology, evident from its highest number of patent applications and valid patents worldwide.
China’s trajectory in humanoid robot development is bolstered by steadfast policy support. According to MIIT guidelines, by 2025, the nation aims to establish a preliminary innovation framework for humanoid robots. By 2027, a secure and reliable industrial and supply chain ecosystem will be in place, with these robots becoming deeply integrated into the real economy.
Regional initiatives are also gaining momentum. Last year, Beijing launched its first innovation center dedicated to humanoid robots – the Beijing Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center (HUMANOID) – focusing on core technologies and product ecosystems. This center aims to drive industry-wide advancements by enabling other enterprises to “stand on the shoulders of giants,” said Xiong Youjun, HUMANOID’s general manager.
Since the beginning of 2024, manufacturing hubs like Zhejiang, Shandong, Anhui, and Sichuan have been accelerating their innovation efforts, establishing centers that promote industry-university-research collaborations.
“With collaborative innovation and streamlined efforts between policy, capital, and other critical factors, China’s humanoid robot industry is poised for active innovation,” remarked tech investment expert Wang Jianing. “We are witnessing breakthroughs in core technologies and exploring commercialization paths tailored to national conditions.”
Experts anticipate that the next decade will see explosive growth in this sector. A report from the First Chinese Humanoid Robot Industry Conference in April forecasts that the market size in China could reach 75 billion yuan by 2029, representing 32.7 percent of the global total.
“With ongoing accumulation, iteration, and optimization, we are confident that we can accelerate alongside the global humanoid robot industry and excel in the sector,” Jiao affirmed.
(Editing by [Your Name])