Humanoid robot race heats up VIDEO

According to its recent article, Interesting Engineering highlights that the competition in the robotics industry is rapidly intensifying, with new companies quickly entering the market. 

Humanoid robots could become a common sight in the future as companies prepare to begin large-scale production of these human-like machines.

UBTech Robotics in China is set to start mass production of its humanoid robots by the end of this year. The company plans to deliver between 500 and 1,000 units of its Walker S Series industrial humanoid robots.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) has reported that the upcoming Walker S2 model is expected to make up more than 60 per cent of this year's humanoid robot deliveries.

These robots are set to be distributed across various industries, including car manufacturers, Foxconn (an Apple supplier), and logistics company SF Express.

Many industries, particularly in manufacturing, are struggling with a shortage of human workers, which is driving factories to increasingly turn to humanoid robots.

According to the company’s website, the Walker S series includes the Walker S, Walker S1, and the upcoming S2 models.

These robots feature advanced perception systems, allowing for precise and safe collaboration on factory assembly lines. By integrating AI and robotics technologies, the humanoids aim to enhance industrial operations.

The Walker S model is equipped with over 41 servo joints and boasts advanced capabilities, including various sensors (visual, audio, and distance) that allow it to explore its environment.

With its robust perception abilities, the Walker S can reliably detect its surroundings, including humans and objects.

The advanced Walker S1 model offers 360-degree multimodal perception, integrated joints, dexterous hands, and is powered by a Large Language Model (LLM) for general task planning.

Launched last October, the Walker S1 is the company’s most advanced industrial humanoid and has already been successfully integrated into the production lines of leading car manufacturers such as BYD.

In fact, according to Interesting Engineering, UBTech received over 500 orders for its Walker S1 robot from major automakers last year.

On January 15th, UBTech Robotics formed a new partnership with Foxconn, a major Apple supplier, to incorporate its Walker S1 humanoid robot into iPhone production processes.

UBTech is not slowing down its progress.

The company is reportedly set to launch the Walker S2 in the second quarter of this year, a “lighter and stronger version” of its current humanoid robot. 

Additionally, UBTech is expected to introduce another new model in the Walker S series later this year, although few details have been shared about these upcoming robots.

The Walker S2 is said to feature several enhancements, including improved precision, advanced vision systems, better AI algorithms for faster task adaptation, and a higher load capacity.

UBTech’s plans to increase production come as competition intensifies within China’s robotics industry, with many new companies quickly advancing their own humanoid robot developments.

Agibot, also known as Zhiyuan Robotics, has revealed ambitious plans to produce 1,000 units of its general-purpose commercial humanoid robots. Notably, the Shanghai-based startup introduced its first humanoid robot model only in August 2023.

Meanwhile, US companies such as Tesla are targeting mass production of their humanoid robots by 2026.

The competition is intense, with new entrants quickly emerging in the market. However, UBTech believes its ten years of experience provide it with a significant competitive advantage.

"Technology is a key driving power for the new companies, but it takes time for all of them to train or to make the talent pool, because humanoid robots are a really comprehensive area," said Michael Tam, chief brand officer, to SCMP.

Despite this, UBTech continues to encounter financial challenges typical in the robotics industry, particularly high investment costs.

By Naila Huseynova