China robot makers seek to turn humanoid hype into useful work

Chinese robot manufacturers displayed humanoid robots performing tasks such as parcel sorting, phone packing and household chores at a Beijing conference on Wednesday. The World Robot Conference, attended by over 300 mostly domestic companies, showcased more than 2,000 exhibits and launched more than 150 products, signaling a shift from mere displays to commercial applications.

The event coincides with growing investor interest in humanoids, seen as a potential source of industrial growth for China and a technology competition area with the United States. Unitree, China's leading humanoid robot maker, saw its shares surge nearly sixfold following its initial public offering, which was over 8,000 times oversubscribed by retail investors.

Other startups and divisions of major auto exporters also expressed interest in going public. Nvidia's senior executive and daughter of the company's CEO, Madison Huang, visited the conference, watching robots perform impressive feats before inquiring about their sensors. Foreign companies, such as RealSense, are building sales partnerships in China as the sector grows.

Chinese robots are increasingly being tested in logistics, manufacturing and service settings, with applications ranging from moving crates to packing mobile phones. Companies like Leju, Robotera and DexForce have deployed humanoid robots in logistics, auto plants and assembly lines, demonstrating millimetre-level accuracy and error detection capabilities.

Lumos Robotics is automating factory assembly processes and plans to introduce robots into final assembly, while X Square Robot is testing robots in hundreds of homes before commercialization. Nvidia's visit underscored the role of foreign suppliers in China's push to develop robots for factories, warehouses and homes, as U.S. restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips have not deterred these efforts.