China’s Ambitious Plan to Deploy Humanoid Robots Worldwide: Analyzing Challenges Revealed at Beijing Showcase.
Few times has a country embraced an emerging technology with such enthusiasm. China is doing it with humanoid robots: sports competitions, five-year plans, and dedicated factories. The national strategy and its staggering numbers speak of “the next great revolution”, but the technical and economic details point to a less epic scenario.
### China’s Push for Humanoid Robots
Since 2021, China has been on a mission to lead the global market in humanoid robots. The five-year plan set a 20% annual growth target with a $140 billion fund. This year, they aim to manufacture over 10,000 units, turning them into investment hubs. The message is clear: Beijing wants to lead what they see as the new revolution after smartphones and electric cars.
### Challenges Ahead: Autonomy and Safety
Beyond the numbers, basic problems persist. A humanoid robot needs to recharge for nine minutes after every hour and a half of use, and in practice, it must stop much earlier to avoid running out of battery. Safety is also a concern: a bipedal robot weighing several kilos collapsing poses a significant risk. And the industry-required reliability (99.99%) is still far from being achieved.
However, the reality today is different: there are hardly any commercial deployments beyond pilot tests. There are still no applications justifying massive deployment, turning the boom into a bet on the future rather than a tangible reality.
