UBTech announced Tuesday that it had secured a $37-million deal with a humanoid robotics testing centre near China’s border with Vietnam. The agreement marks a major step in practical humanoid applications.
Walker Robots to Test Border and Factory Operations
The project will primarily use the latest UBTech “Walker” robots. They will assist in border management, logistics, and factory patrols. Delivery to the centre is set to begin in December. The company did not specify if the robots will operate via artificial intelligence or remote control.
China Promotes Humanoid Robotics Development
China’s government encourages domestic firms to lead the global robotics industry. According to Leaderobot, China’s humanoid robotics market is expected to reach 82 billion yuan ($11.6 billion) in 2025. This would account for roughly half of global sales.
Recent Humanoid Robotics Milestones
In August, Beijing hosted the world’s first humanoid robot games. More than 500 “athletes” competed in sports such as basketball and competitive cleaning. Additionally, a Shanghai-made AgiBot robot set a Guinness World Record by walking 100 kilometres over three days.
Market Challenges and Sales Growth
Despite these achievements, large-scale real-world deployment remains limited. Goldman Sachs warns that overcapacity may become an issue as production increases without sufficient orders. However, UBTech reported that its Walker series has already generated 1.1 billion yuan in sales this year. Executive Tan Min noted that “the orders we have received far exceed the announced number.”
Future Prospects
With this deal, UBTech aims to demonstrate the versatility of humanoid robots in real-world applications. The project highlights China’s push toward innovation, automation, and the global robotics market.
