UBTech secures large humanoid robots order

In the world of work, diligence never goes out of style — whether you are a hardworking human or a robot with a robust work ethic.

UBTech Robotics Corp, a Shenzhen-based global leader in the production of humanoid robots, has secured the largest single order for humanoid robots to date, thanks to its newly launched robot that is capable of working 24 hours a day.

The Hong Kong-listed company announced last week that it had signed a 250 million yuan ($35 million) contract with a well-known domestic company, which has chosen to remain anonymous.

The contract involves the procurement of embodied intelligent humanoid robot products and solutions, primarily featuring the Walker S2 model, which is equipped with an autonomous hot-swapping battery system.

The delivery under this contract is slated to begin this year.

In July, UBTech unveiled a next-generation humanoid robot, Walker S2, featuring the world's first autonomous battery swapping technology, enabling 24/7 uninterrupted operation.

The company said that the Brain-Net 2.0 network and Co-Agent technology it has developed — the first intelligent agent technology for industrial humanoid robots — enable the robots to operate both independently and as a coordinated group, enhancing their capabilities through continuous improvement.

According to public data, the Walker series humanoid robots by UBTech have amassed nearly 4 billion yuan in contracts, including nearly 50 million yuan in humanoid robot orders delivered in the first half of this year.

Industry insiders have noted that the commercialization of humanoid robots in the Chinese market is beginning to accelerate.

A research report by Guohai Securities projects that the market size for humanoid robots in China will reach $5 billion by 2030.

According to the "Manufacturing Talent Development Planning Guide," China will face a shortage of manufacturing workers by 2025. This labor shortage, coupled with rising costs, is fueling a sustained demand for humanoid robots, as highlighted in the recent report by the brokerage.

Two other domestic robotics companies, Unitree Robotics and Fourier Intelligence, have jointly won a bid for a humanoid bipedal robot manufacturing service procurement project, valued at 124 million yuan, from a subsidiary of China Mobile in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. The contract covers the period from 2025 to 2027.

Industry insiders said that getting an order is just the first step in the competitive robotics industry, while delivering on that order is key to its success.

Uncertainties remain from order to delivery because more progress is needed in the final stages, like engineering validation and commercial implementation. Therefore, companies need to know their limits and make smart choices about how they organize and prioritize their supply chains.

chenhong@chinadaily.com.cn