While the U.S. remains at the forefront of humanoid robotics, China is ramping up its efforts with new product launches, signaling an intensifying market competition.
According to industry sources, Chinese startup AGIBOT released an online video on Sunday revealing five new humanoid robot models.
AGIBOT, also known as ZHIYUAN Robotics, was founded by Peng Zhihui, who was recruited from Huawei through the company’s Genius Project and earned a substantial salary.
Less than a year after founding the company, Peng unveiled the bipedal AI robot Expedition A1.
The recent announcement featured five new models: the Expedition A2, the industrial A2-W, the high-duty A2-MAX, and the open-source robots Linxi X1 and Linxi X1-W.
The A2, a conversational service robot, stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 152 pounds. It has a large language model (LLM) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) capabilities, enabling smooth human interaction and information retrieval from a comprehensive knowledge database. The A2 also boasts 360-degree LiDAR sensors and cameras, allowing it to perceive its environment, execute commands accurately, and navigate around obstacles effectively.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the A2 can perform delicate tasks like threading a needle. Sales are scheduled to begin in October.
At the launch event, Peng stated, “Mass production is currently underway, and we have received orders from various customers in the manufacturing sector.” He highlighted the goal of accelerating innovation across the industry and ensuring that robots can genuinely serve humanity in all aspects of life and work, achieving true wisdom.
Earlier in July, the Yangtze River Delta National Innovation Center unveiled a versatile humanoid robot named Qinglong at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC). This robot also features AI-based language recognition, and the center plans to build an open-source community around Qinglong to foster an innovative ecosystem.
American tech companies are also stepping up their competition in the robotics market this year, with new products, platforms, and research achievements being announced rapidly.
Since unveiling the Optimus robot series in 2022, Tesla has been pushing forward with its research and development. Reports indicate that Tesla plans to conduct limited testing of the Optimus robots at its own factories to evaluate their practical uses before they are released for external sales.
In the U.S., Figure, a company supported by OpenAI, has finished testing its robots on production lines at a BMW factory as it gears up for a new product launch later this month. Meanwhile, tech giants Nvidia, Google, and Meta have also shared their latest research findings and outlined their plans for developing robotics platforms.
Historically, hydraulic actuators have been responsible for a significant portion of the cost of humanoid robots. However, more affordable electric actuator technology advancements have made integrating these systems into robots feasible, enhancing their potential for use in industrial settings.
Meanwhile, a report from Morgan Stanley this year projects that 8 million robots will be in use by 2040 and 63 million by 2050. The report indicates that thanks to simpler safety regulations, adopting humanoid robots may outpace autonomous vehicles.