China’s humanoid robot guidelines focus on ethical and security concerns

The Robot Report announced that China is advancing its position in the robotics industry with a clear focus on humanoid robots.

At its recent Third Plenary Session, China outlined its economic strategy, emphasising the role of robots in driving growth amid the latest industrial transformation. As the world’s largest robot market, China is leading the way in industrial robot automation.

Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), highlighted China's impressive progress, noting that the country’s operational stock of industrial robots surpassed 1.5 million units two years ago, making it the largest globally. In 2022 alone, China installed 290,258 units, accounting for 52 per cent of the global market. This surge in demand is fueled by significant investments in various industries. The automotive sector, with its focus on both traditional and electric vehicles, has driven much of this growth since 2010, establishing China as the leading market and production hub for cars.

Additionally, China’s electronics industry, including producers of devices, batteries, semiconductors, and microchips, has taken over from automotive as the primary driver of robot demand since 2016. Despite its dominance in the domestic market, China's export of robots remains limited, with less than 5 per cent of robots being exported. According to Xiaogang Song, Executive Director and Secretary-General of the China Robot Industry Alliance (CRIA), Chinese robot companies are gradually expanding abroad, often by partnering with local entities and hiring local talent to build brand credibility and meet foreign market needs.

China's strategy includes a strong focus on humanoid robots, with recent goals set by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) predicting that humanoids will become a transformative technology in the coming years. The MIIT aims for mass production of humanoid robots by 2025 and has outlined a roadmap to foster innovation and achieve breakthroughs in this field. 

In July, five industry organisations from Shanghai collaboratively developed guidelines for humanoid robot development in China. These guidelines emphasise that humanoids should "protect human dignity" and "not pose a threat to human security." At the recent World Robot Conference, nearly 30 companies showcased their humanoid models, as reported by Reuters.

 Aaron Prather, Director of the Robotics & Autonomous Systems Program at ASTM International, noted that while several challenges could impede China's ambitions, having a transparent and effective plan is crucial to minimising risks. "Strategic planning is key to determining China’s future role in the robotics sector," Prather explained. "China’s clear roadmap puts it ahead, and other countries need to formulate their own strategies to avoid falling behind as China continues to push forward aggressively."