In mid-August, Beijing hosted the 10th World Robot Conference, where Shenzhen-based UBtech showcased how humanoid robots can be applied in real-world industrial settings, according to Lianhe Zaobao.
The company demonstrated robots that not only handle tasks like sorting, material transfer and quality checks, but can also swap out their own batteries without human assistance.
Potential applications
At the event’s opening, the Chinese Institute of Electronics unveiled 10 potential applications for humanoid robots. Industrial uses include automobile manufacturing (loading, unloading, assembly support), shipbuilding (grinding, polishing), and inspections in petrochemical plants and power stations. Consumer uses include household help, customer service, companionship and social interaction.
While these developments are promising, experts cautioned against overestimating the technology’s readiness. Bu Canhua, an analyst at Huaxi Securities, noted that robotic arms remain cheaper and more efficient for repetitive tasks. For everyday buyers, humanoid robots are still costly and limited in practicality.
Notably, the biggest barrier to wider adoption, analysts say, is that artificial intelligence has not yet reached the level of sophistication required for large-scale deployment.
China’s advantage
Despite the hurdles, China’s rapid advances in humanoid robotics continue to draw international interest. Xie Ming, president of the Robotics Society of Singapore and an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University, stated that China holds an advantage due to its comprehensive supply chain and extensive range of testing environments. That combination, he said, enables the country to refine products quickly and integrate them into relevant industries.
Some experts suggest that China is more likely to see breakthroughs in narrow applications — such as security checks, classroom assistance and elder care — within the next three to five years, rather than in the immediate rollout of fully versatile humanoid robots.
