China's humanoid robots are making waves with groundbreaking advancements in models intended to perform household tasks, stock warehouses and put on dazzling performances, as demonstrated at the recently concluded 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing.
Once confined to sci-fi films, the reality of a robot cooking a household meal is now becoming a reality with the unveiling of 27 humanoid robot models at the conference. Mimicking the movement capabilities of the human body, these robots are equipped with vast knowledge reserves and are becoming all the more adept with the emergence of AI.
Industry insiders believe China's humanoid robot sector is on the cusp of a major boom, with these robots poised to be as disruptive as computers, smartphones, and new energy vehicles.
"The price of this robot falls between that of our smartphones and the most affordable cars, though it may lean more towards the smartphone end. We will commence preparations for mass production in the latter half of this year and are gradually gearing up to bring it into homes nationwide," said Yang Fengyu, an exhibitor at the conference.
Robot makers across China are accelerating development in this field after a guideline on the innovation and development of humanoid robots released last year has outlined a clear roadmap for progress.
Significant milestones include the establishment of the first provincial humanoid robot innovation center in Beijing in November 2023 and the launch of the first national-local collaborative center in Shanghai in May. The inaugural China Humanoid Robot Industry Conference in April projected that by 2029, China's humanoid robot market will reach 75 billion yuan (nearly 11 billion U.S. dollars), making it the largest in the world.
"We anticipate significant results from various trials over the coming years, with some technologies evolving and new applications emerging. Humanoid robots, as innovative products, will not replace existing roles but will create new job opportunities and applications across many new fields," said Zhao Mingguo, director of the Robot Control Laboratory at Tsinghua University's Department of Automation.
Chinese companies are not only making strides domestically but are also expanding internationally, employing direct sales within China and agency models abroad. According to the International Federation of Robotics, China's industrial robot exports reached a record 118,300 units in 2023.
"Our G1 humanoid robot, standing 1.3 meters tall, is expected to be delivered to users within one to two months. We have already received advance orders from numerous tech companies both domestically and internationally, and are now preparing for delivery," said Huang Jiawei, an exhibitor.
A report by Frost and Sullivan, a consulting firm that tracks industry transformation and identifies growth opportunities, predicts that China's export market for commercial service robots will exceed 5 billion yuan (over 702 million U.S. dollars) by 2030.
The scale of industrial robot installations in China has surged from approximately 60,000 a decade ago to 290,000 today. This rapid growth means that more than half of the world's annual industrial robot installations now occur in China, with continued technological advancements on the horizon.
China's humanoid robots approach market readiness for home, industry
