Khaberni -The Chinese robotics industry has achieved a new global precedent, as a Shenzhen-based company announced the development of a new humanoid robot that can change its batteries by itself.
An explanatory video released on Thursday shows the Walker S2 robot, developed by UBTECH, heading to a charging station, removing an empty battery from its chest, placing it on a charging base, then installing a new battery before setting off.
This feature means that the robot is capable - at least theoretically - of operating around the clock without human assistance, according to the company.
The humanoid robotics industry in China has made rapid progress in recent years, as the Chinese government has identified robotics and artificial intelligence as strategically important industries and has provided generous political support, according to a report published by "scmp" and reviewed by "Al Arabiya Business".
A report by Moody's on Thursday suggested that China "emerges as a rising force in the field of robotics" thanks to its unique ability to combine advanced artificial intelligence with low-cost manufacturing.
According to a "Morgan Stanley" report issued in February, more than half of the globally listed companies working on humanoid robots are Chinese companies, and startups in the country's robotics field attract a large share of global venture capital funding.
UBTECH, based in Shenzhen, which became the first humanoid robotics manufacturing company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2023, is among a group of Chinese companies racing to launch their humanoid models into the public market.
Six Chinese companies specialized in humanoid robots have set goals to manufacture more than 1000 units this year, putting them on par with Tesla, a leader in the American market, which also aims to mass-produce thousands of Optimus robots annually.
UBTECH has not set such a production target, but its Walker robots have already been tested on production lines at Chinese electric car manufacturers BYD, NIO, and ZEEKR.
The Walker S2 robot is designed to be more productive, thanks to its dual battery system and ability to switch batteries, allowing it to operate independently with minimal human supervision.
The robot can monitor its energy levels and switch batteries as needed. In case one battery's charge level drops, the system can switch to the other and continue working uninterrupted, according to the report.
According to reports, it can complete a battery swap in just three minutes, as the batteries are designed to be plugged in like USB devices, making them easy to insert and remove.
Shenzhen, home to UBTECH, has set ambitious goals to become a leader in the field of robotics, focusing local authorities on accelerating the adoption of robotics across a wide range of industries.
This southern technology hub already hosts over 1600 robotics companies.
The city achieved another global first last Monday, as a local startup deployed a team of delivery robots to restock 7-Eleven stores located inside the city's metro stations.
It is said that this project is the first of its kind featuring robots that board metro trains to deliver goods.
