AsianFin -- Chinese companies are ramping up the launch of humanoid robots, marking the industry's entry into an early phase of mass production, according to an industry expert on Tuesday.
This development follows Guangdong-based robotics company Dobot's announcement of its "world's first full-size embodied intelligent humanoid robot," the Dobot Atom. Priced starting at 199,000 yuan ($27,512), the robot features advanced dexterous manipulation and straight-leg walking capabilities, signaling the dawn of the mass production era, as reported by media outlets.
Standing at 1.53 meters tall and weighing 62 kilograms, the Dobot Atom is an industrial-grade humanoid robot with a 1:1 biomimetic arm structure and 41 degrees of freedom across its body. A Dobot representative told news website 21jingji.com that the robot can autonomously perform tasks such as preparing breakfast, pouring milk, arranging fruit plates, toasting bread, and grilling bacon.
Dobot has already begun collaborating with domestic vehicle manufacturers, electronics factories, and coffee and tea shops, with trial production and mass production expected to commence by mid-year, the company revealed.
On the same day, Chinese home appliance giant Midea Group unveiled its humanoid robot prototype. According to Shanghai-based Yicai, the robot can perform a variety of actions, including shaking hands, handing over water, making heart gestures, dancing, opening bottle caps, and driving screws.
Midea Group Vice President Wei Chang stated that the company has established a humanoid robot innovation center to bolster its research and development efforts in this field.
China's humanoid robot sector is bustling with activity. Last November, Chinese automaker Changan announced plans to invest over 50 billion yuan in key areas, including humanoid robotics, with the goal of launching its first humanoid robot product by 2027, as reported by domestic news outlet ThePaper.
According to GGII, a Chinese think tank focused on emerging industries, the global humanoid robot market is projected to grow significantly, reaching $15 billion by 2030.
Several Chinese manufacturers aim to achieve mass production of humanoid robots in the coming years, signaling the imminent arrival of the mass production era for this technology, as reported by China National Radio on Tuesday.
