China's humanoid robots advance automation

In Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer Zeekr, which is part of Geely Holding Group, a prominent automaker, welcomed its first humanoid robot "intern" to its factory recently.

With a height of 170 centimeters and clad in sleek silver, the robot extended its lightweight arm, picked up and carried a crate of automotive parts weighing 15 kilograms, and navigated through narrow aisles and around obstacles with the grace of a seasoned worker.

As it moved through the factory, Walker S, the humanoid robot developed by Chinese artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics company UBTech Robotics, notched up a first: it became the first of its kind in China to carry out full-process handling tasks at an automotive factory.

At the World Robot Conference held in Beijing in late August, 27 such humanoid robots made by different companies, including UBTech, created a splash as many Chinese companies announced they are accelerating efforts to commercialize humanoid robots, especially for industrial applications.

As these humanoid robots begin their real-world training in factories, the scene appears straight out of the sci-fi realm — cyberpunk future, it can be said, is starting to take shape. The hum of these robots at work is the sound of the manufacturing sector's next era, where human-robot collaboration is not just a possibility but an emerging reality.

Xu Xiaolan, former vice-minister of industry and information technology and a member of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said that humanoid robots are expected to become another "disruptive product" after computers, smartphones and new energy vehicles.

"Currently in China, new technologies, products and formats represented by humanoid robots and general artificial intelligence are thriving and becoming the pinnacle of global technological innovation, a new track for future industries and a new engine of economic growth," she said.