In just a decade, China has undergone a transformation from a maker of inexpensive counterfeits to a planet leader in electromobility. With aggressive government subsidies, R & D investments and strategical supply chain building, Chinese electrical cars have conquered global markets. Beijing now sets itself another ambitious goal: to make the planet country powerful in producing advanced humanoid robots. Will this play succeed? And what challenges stand in the way of repeating the success of the EV industry?
Chinese Strategy: From government plans to real prototypes
As reported XinhuaHumanoid robotics was at the centre of interest of Chinese authorities. In a paper published in 2023 “Guidelines for the Innovation and improvement of Humanoid Robots” Ministry of Information manufacture and Technology (MIIT) announced that to 2025 the country is to have full functional robots, and to 2027 – advanced models capable of working in factories, wellness services and households.
“Humanoid robots are a breakthrough technology that will revolutionize industrial production and everyday life. China must actively participate in this race" said MIIT typical in an interview with Xinhua.
Following the declarations, concrete actions followed. Companies specified as Unitree Robotics, Xiaomi (robot creator CyberOne) and Fourier Intelligence They're already presenting working prototypes. Only in 2023 Chinese robotic start-ups attracted over $1.5 billion of investmentand the government has launched peculiar economical zones with taxation relief for companies developing this technology.
EV success as a function model
In order to realize Chinese ambitions in the field of robotics, it is worth investigating how Beijing built its dominance in the electrical car industry. Key factors are:
- Mass subsidies – The government has allocated billions of dollars to subsidies to EV producers and buyers.
- Supply chain control – China monopolized the extraction of uncommon earth metals and the production of lithium-ion batteries.
- Protection of the interior market – Foreigners must make joint ventures with Chinese companies, which allows for technology transfer.
Can a akin model work for humanoid robots? The experts are divided.
Challenges: Why is robotics more hard than electromobility?
Despite the optimism of the authorities, the robotic manufacture faces far more serious challenges than the EV sector utilized to be. As indicated by the analysis Nikkei AsiaThe main barriers are:
1. Technological complexity
Humanoid robots require advanced mechanics, precise sensors and artificial intelligence capable of self-learning. While there was a key battery and engine in EV, there is simply a request for synergy of many complex systems.
2. Production costs
Now the price of humanoid robot reaches tens of thousands of dollars. By comparison, the average Chinese EV costs around USD 30,000which is inactive much more accessible to the mass audience.
3. No clear business model
For electrical cars, request was apparent – they replaced conventional combustion cars. Meanwhile, it is not yet known whether humanoid robots will find a major usage in:
- I'll think about it (as mill workers)
- Health care (as assistants to the elderly)
- Households (as costly gadgets)
But does China have an advantage?
Despite the challenges, Beijing has respective crucial assets:
1. Complete production ecosystem
Chinese factories are already producing most of the components needed to build robots – from servomechanisms to AI systems. Companies specified as DJI (drone leader) have shown that they can compete with Western giants.
2. fast commercialisation of technology
Chinese companies have a reputation for bringing innovation to the marketplace – frequently at the expense of quality, but at an attractive price. If we manage to reduce the cost of producing robots, they can get under the roof much faster than expected.
3. State support and a immense interior market
Government procurement and subsidies can make artificial demand, as in EV. Moreover, Chinese society rapidly adopts fresh technologies – just look at the universality of mobile payments or 5G networks.
Perspectives: erstwhile will humanoid robots become everyday?
Analysts foresee 3 possible scenarios:
- Optimistic (2027-2030) – advancement in AI and robotics will let mass production of cheap, functional robots. China will become their largest exporter.
- Moderate (30th century) – Robots will mainly go to industry, but their home adoption will be slow due to advanced prices.
- Pessimistic – Technology will prove besides complicated and the marketplace will never scope EV.
Summary: Chance is, but success is not sure
China has a real chance to become a leader in the production of humanoid robots, but the way to repeat the success of EV manufacture will be much harder. It will be crucial to overcome technological barriers, find real applications and reduce costs. If this works, in a fewer years we can talk about another industrial revolution – this time controlled not by cars, but by humanoid machines.
Source:
- Xinhua – “China accelerators improvement of humanoid robots” (2024)
- Nikkei Asia – “Can China repeat its EV success in humanoid robots?” (2024)
How do you feel about the future of humanoid robots? Will they become as common as smartphones, or will they stay niche technology? Share your opinion in a comment!
Leszek B. Glass
Email: [email protected]
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