Robots entering Chinese homes

CHONGQING — During the World Smart Industry Expo 2025, crowds of visitors gathered at the booth of Agile Robots to watch a robotic arm move precisely over a participant's waist. Using sensors to detect muscle tension and applying the ideal amount of pressure for a massage, the robotic arm drew exclamations of amazement: "Its technique is even better than a veteran masseur!"

The healthcare robot developed by the Beijing-based company is called "Dabai" and is equipped with tactile sensors and artificial intelligence algorithms. It can provide users with professional massage services.

With a focus on "AI+" and "Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicles" this year, the four-day expo from Friday to Monday brought together more than 600 domestic and international businesses, showcasing over 3,000 innovations in the smart technology industry.

One particular highlight of the exhibition area was the various smart robot products that targeted ordinary Chinese households.

"The physiotherapy services industry relies on the therapist's skills and faces challenges such as long training periods and a high staff turnover," said Zhang Mingfeng, electrical supervisor at Agile Robots. "The key to addressing industry bottlenecks is to standardize products and services."

Zhang added that "Dabai" can identify individual meridians and acupoints. "Based on big data and AI algorithms, the robot provides automated physical therapy with precise acupoint targeting and force control — just as a professional physiotherapist," he said.

From humanoid robots that can sing and dance to floor-cleaning machines and electronic pets, a variety of advanced devices are now entering everyday households. These products, once limited to factories and laboratories, are now helping to improve people's daily lives.

"Robots are not cold machines in steel shells. We aim to make technology help," said Xi E'e, head of brand operations of an industrial innovation park in Chongqing.

At the exhibition, she presented several innovative products, including a Braille reader that helps with Braille reading, a smart sleep lamp with noncontact health monitoring, a modular lawn-mowing robot, and an electric camping vehicle that doubles as a mobile charging station.

"These innovative products cover scenarios such as household use, healthcare and outdoor activities, as the smart robots cater to diversifying consumer demands," said Xi.

These innovations are backed by the robust growth of China's intelligent robot industry.

According to data from the 2025 World Robot Conference, China has remained the world's largest industrial robot market for 12 consecutive years. Meanwhile, the output of service robots exceeded 10.5 million units in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 34.3 percent.

According to a Morgan Stanley report, China's robotics market is projected to grow from $47 billion in 2024 to $108 billion by 2028, with service robots achieving a compound annual growth rate of 25 percent.

Inside the exhibition hall, the laughter of children stands as the clearest testament to how technology can transform lives.

"My daughter is very interested in this desktop pet robot, and we plan to get one for her," said Li Qing, who visited the expo with her six-year-old.

The product is a kitten-like robot that can engage in conversation and display a range of expressions. It functions as both a learning assistant and a delightful companion.

China's robotics industry is accelerating its development toward large-scale production and cost reductions while establishing a complete supply chain from design to assembly.

"This product in the 1,000 yuan ($140) range lowers the threshold for households to own intelligent robots, making technology more accessible," explained an on-site staff member.

Xinhua