Global tech firms eye Chinese robotics edge

Chinese robotics companies are increasingly becoming development partners with foreign technology giants, as overseas firms seek to combine artificial intelligence with the hardware and manufacturing capabilities needed to put humanoid robots to practical and efficient use.

One recent example came after US-based Meta was reported to have built a humanoid robot prototype with Shanghai-based startup Fourier and was already working on a second version. Citing people familiar with the project, the report from The Information said the prototype — known as Max — was developed in about three months.

The program follows a series of recent partnerships between foreign tech heavyweights and Chinese robotics developers. In June, Nvidia unveiled an open humanoid robot reference design incorporating Unitree's H2 Plus humanoid robot body, alongside Nvidia's Jetson Thor computing platform and its Isaac GR00T development platform.

The integrated design aims to address a fragmented development process spanning hardware integration, data collection, simulation, training and deployment, allowing researchers to focus on developing and testing robot skills, Nvidia said.

Separately, Japan's Hitachi and UBTECH — based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province — agreed in May to develop robot manufacturing solutions, with their work involving on-site testing and secondary development of UBTECH's Walker S2 at a Hitachi elevator factory.

Prior to that, in January, Intel China and China's JAKA Robotics also signed a memorandum of understanding to combine Intel computing platforms with JAKA's robotic technologies and draw up a joint development roadmap for embodied AI applications.

"By combining our strengths, we will … foster an open ecosystem to empower the intelligent transformation of industries such as automotive, electronics and services," said Wang Jingjia, general manager of Intel China's industry and solutions division.

The partnerships come as Chinese manufacturers are playing an increasingly important role as global robotics suppliers, accounting for more than 95 percent of worldwide humanoid robot shipments in the first half, market research firm IDC reported.

Behind the growing presence is China's established manufacturing ecosystem, which could help address one of the industry's biggest challenges — moving humanoid robots beyond prototypes toward cost-effective and reliable production as well as gainful application.

A report by global consultancy McKinsey in April identified supply-chain capabilities as a key factor shaping the pace and economics of commercialization. Actuators account for 40 to 60 percent of a humanoid robot's manufacturing budget, making access to motors, power electronics and other components critical to production costs.

China's established electric vehicle and electromechanical manufacturing base gives its robotics industry an advantage in several of these areas, McKinsey said.

However, hardware and manufacturing capabilities are only part of the equation as competition increasingly shifts toward more advanced intelligence and practical applications.

"Competition is moving beyond robot hardware performance toward broader embodied intelligence capabilities," said Li Junlan, research manager at IDC China, adding that companies able to link tech development with data, engineering and practical applications will be better placed in the next stage of competition.