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From robot dogs to helpers, China puts robotics ambitions on display at world conference
Organizers say about 3,000 products are on display as firms seek buyers and investors for robots built for factory and service work.
On Wednesday, more than 300 companies showcased their latest humanoid machines at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, seeking to convince investors and customers that technology is advancing toward broader commercial adoption.
Shares in Unitree, China's best-known humanoid robot maker, surged nearly sixfold in their Shanghai trading debut, as Xin Guobin, vice-minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, pledged government support, calling robotics an "important force."
According to data from Smart Analytics Global, humanoid robot shipments nearly quadrupled this year to 19,100 units, with robots operating continuously for 900 to 1,000 hours at 85 per cent effectiveness compared to human workers.
Following Unitree's successful IPO, startup Lumos Robotics and AiMOGA Robotics, the robotics division of Chery Automobile, are considering stock market listings. "It allows everyone to compete fully," said AiMOGA Robotics head Zhang Guibing.
While robotics emerges as a new front in US-China rivalry, analyst Georg Stieler estimates 50% to 70% of humanoid robots produced this year could end up in "data factories" used for training data rather than productive customer work.