"Army" of humanoid robots makes a strong impression at the World Robot Exhibition

A worker inspects a humanoid robot at the World Robot Expo 2024. (Source: GT)

Showcasing all sorts of human-like interactions and skills, like giving hearts or winks to the audience, as well as cooking meals and performing calligraphy, 27 different humanoid robots have taken the spotlight at the 2024 World Robot Expo taking place in Beijing, China.

Over the years, global technology and innovation powerhouses have been competing fiercely to launch human-like robot products and accelerate the pace of replicating versions.

Goldman Sachs predicts the total global market value for humanoid robots will reach $154 billion by 2035.

After achieving their goal of dominating the electric vehicle market, Chinese manufacturers are now said to be chasing Tesla (USA) in the race to build battery-powered humanoid robots, expected to replace electric vehicle assembly line workers.

At this year's Beijing expo, more than 20 Chinese companies displayed humanoid robots designed to work in factories and warehouses, and many even displayed the precision parts made in China needed to build the robots.

Just as its push into electric vehicles began more than a decade ago, China is pushing into robotics with a combination of government support, competitive pricing and deep supply chains.

Beijing launched a $1.4 billion state-backed fund for robotics in January 2024, while Shanghai announced plans to set up a $1.4 billion humanoid robot development fund in July.

Data from Qichacha, a Chinese business data platform, shows that the country now has nearly 720,000 robotics-related businesses.

Among them, there are currently more than 20 enterprises producing complete humanoid robot products.

The robots on display at the Beijing show come from the same domestic manufacturers driving the electric vehicle wave, including battery and sensor makers.

Notably, the robotics effort is supported by government policies aimed at developing “new productive forces.”

China's humanoid robot industry presents clear advantages in terms of supply chain integration and mass production capabilities, according to Arjen Rao, an analyst at China-based research institute LeadLeo.

Early last month, the 5G smart factory of Chinese electric vehicle brand Zeekr welcomed its new “employees” – the Walker S Lite humanoid industrial robot developed by UBTECH Robotics Corp., Ltd., a leading Shenzhen-based robotics company.

The 5G smart factory is the fourth auto plant that UBTECH has collaborated with this year. Previously, the company's Walker S humanoid robot was integrated into industrial operations at factories of Chinese electric carmaker NIO, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, and FAW-Volkswagen.

As of July 2024, China had more than 190,000 effective patents related to robots, accounting for about two-thirds of the global total. Over the past 10 years, the number of robots per 10,000 workers in China's manufacturing sector has increased from 49 to 470.

Many experts predict that 2024 will be an important year for "armies" of humanoid robots to step out of the lab and into factories.

China has remained the world's largest industrial robot market for 11 consecutive years, Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said on August 21. China's industrial robot output reached 430,000 units in 2023, while the country's new robot additions accounted for more than half of the global market in the past three years.

As of July 2024, China had more than 190,000 effective patents related to robots, accounting for about two-thirds of the global total. Over the past 10 years, the number of robots per 10,000 workers in China's manufacturing sector has increased from 49 to 470.

The five-day World Robot Expo 2024 in Beijing began on August 21, with 169 companies from around the world participating, including global giants such as Tesla and Siasun.

Participating companies are displaying more than 600 types of robots, of which more than 60 types are making their world debut at this exhibition./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/binh-doan-robot-hinh-nguoi-gay-an-tuong-manh-tai-trien-lam-robot-the-gioi-post972150.vnp