Humanoids of Unitree Robotics made quite the impression at the World Robot Conference held in Beijing this past August. Amongst the crowd, one particularly sleek silver humanoid robot stood at 180 centimeters tall, dazzling attendees as it effortlessly danced alongside a group of "dancing grannies". These elderly performers were not just amused at the sight; they were astonished to see their robotic counterpart keeping rhythm with impressive choreography, executing dance moves with startling precision, even outshining some of the human participants.
This robot is more than just an entertainer. Its applications stretch far beyond the dance floor, demonstrating significant contributions to China's rapidly advancing industrial sector. For example, at Audi FAW's production facility, another humanoid robot has been spotted transporting crates of auto parts, weighing up to 15 kilograms with utmost ease. It deftly navigates narrow aisles and steers around obstacles as smoothly as any seasoned human worker.
The transformative potential of these humanoid robots has begun to reshape China's manufacturing narrative, leaving many to wonder if we're on the verge of something akin to science fiction coming alive. Elon Musk recently captured the world's attention by introducing Tesla's humanoid robot, named Optimus, showing off its ability to walk among attendees and even engage them with conversational tones and modern slang.
There’s more to this than just nifty gadgetry. Xu Xiaolan, once the vice-minister of industry and information technology and now part of the Standing Committee of China’s People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, envisions humanoid robots as the next disruptive force following the likes of computers and smartphones. "Currently, new technologies represented by humanoid robots and general AI are thriving here and are poised to become the pinnacle of global technological innovation," Xu stated.
Taking the spotlight at the World Robot Conference was Unitree Robotics' G1 humanoid, recently updated for mass production, embodying not just elegant design but powerful performance characteristics as well. Spanning various cutting-edge features, including joints with maximum torque and precise 360-degree cameras, this robot is capable of walking at astonishing speeds of 3.3 meters per second, even setting records as the first full-sized electric humanoid robot to perform stationary backflips. The cost for such innovation? A reasonable 99,000 yuan, or about $13,910, making it one of the most accessible humanoid robots available.
When you stack up the pricing of this upstart against Tesla's Optimus, which is expected to retail for around $25,000, it becomes evident why many industry experts are excited. This underpricing could just be the nudge needed for widespread adoption of humanoid robots across various sectors within the country.
Market insights paint a promising picture for China's humanoid robot industry, projected to reach $2.9 billion in revenue this year alone, with expectations of ballooning to approximately $46.31 billion by 2031, putting it on track for monumental growth at a staggering compound annual growth rate of 48.6 percent. Jiao Jichao, vice-president of UBTech, conveyed strong optimism over the imminent deployment of humanoid robots, particularly within the automobile industry, to tackle increasingly complex tasks such as handling and sorting.
These humanoid robots will not just stop at basic labor. By 2027, as Jiao indicated, they'll likely take on assembly tasks too. Industries like 3C, referring to computers, communications, and consumer electronics, will also benefit from these advancements. This roadmap aims at scaling production, enhancing quality, controlling costs, and boosting operational efficiency for broader applications.
Looking beyond immediate implementations, China has laid out plans to advance humanoid robot innovation significantly. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has aspirations for the nation to establish preliminary innovation systems for humanoid robots by 2025—aiming to secure a reliable industry and supply chain by 2027, closely knitting robots and related products with the real economy.
Moving forward, Jin Zhuanglong, the current minister of industry and information technology, announced plans to spearhead research projects, cultivate incubators, and support localized development of diversified applications. Such efforts, he believes, will boost the competitiveness of future robotics and AI industries.
Chinese robot companies are banking on the perfect mix of favorable conditions: timing, location, and talent, as stated by Rick Xiong, the general manager of the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center. His viewpoint reflects the vibrancy of the current market, contrasting the concentrated advantages enjoyed by Western giants with China's multitude of small to medium-sized enterprises striving against competitive odds.
Recent advancements aren't just niche products; they arise from the revolutionary impact of AI language models similar to the likes of ChatGPT. Traditionally, robotic systems were limited by their programming, struggling to decipher human instructions. Yet with the infusion of advanced AI, robots can now interpret and respond to human language effectively, heralding the rise of what many are dubbing "embodied intelligence".
Wang Xingxing, CEO and founder of Unitree Robotics, is hopeful about what lies within the next five years for the industry. He envisions this period as the time when humanoid robots could become commonplace across various sectors, marking their potential 'iPhone moment'—a tipping point where these robots become integral to operations.
While humanoid robots might still currently seem constrained by their capabilities, the rapid pace of innovations strongly suggests these boundaries are set to expand. Wang even hinted at the possibility of witnessing the launch of general-purpose AI models by the end of this year, signifying what may serve as the dawn of robotics’ new era.
Humanoid robots are not merely futuristic fantasies; they hold significant promise, poised for explosive growth over the next decade spurred on by the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. This sentiment echoes from Chen Jia, who conducts research at Renmin University of China's International Monetary Institute. Further emphasizing this, Marina Bill, the president of the International Federation of Robotics, drew attention to the fact China has seen its industrial robots skyrocket from just 60,000 installations ten years ago to around 290,000 today—making it the fastest-growing robot market globally.
With each passing year, China's investment and development reflect its status as the largest operational robot market, demonstrating astonishing growth, especially considering the pace of its automation. How will these advancements reshape the manufacturing workforce and the dynamics within factories? Only time will tell, but the wheels of change are undeniably at play.
