Thu, 24 Apr 2025

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 Who will win the race to develop a humanoid robot?

Humanoid robots are attracting a lot of investment but will China dominate the industry?

* The G1, a humanoid robot built by Chinese firm Unitree, has been designed to be smaller and more affordable than other robots on the market.
* The G1 has a highly fluid range of motion and dexterity, which allows it to perform dance numbers and martial arts with ease.
* However, introducing a humanoid robot to unpredictable environments like homes or restaurants is a significant challenge due to safety concerns.
* To be useful, humanoid robots would need to be strong but not too heavy, which is a difficult balance to achieve.
* The artificial intelligence required to control these machines has yet to reach a breakthrough moment, according to Unitree's spokesperson.
* Currently, the G1 is marketed towards research institutions and tech companies who can use Unitree's open source software for development.
* Other companies like Tesla (with its Optimus robot) and BMW are also developing humanoid robots for warehouses and factories.
* Chinese companies may dominate the market due to their strong supply chain and ecosystem, as well as government support.
* US and European robot makers face challenges in competing with Asian nations, including higher costs and more complex logistics.
* To stay competitive, some companies are opting for simpler designs or manufacturing in Asia.
* Even optimistic developers like Bren Pierce of Kinisi Robotics believe that humanoid robots will not be ready for homes until at least 10-15 years from now.
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