If science fiction films represent humanity's imagination of the future, then the booming robotics industry is steadily turning these visions into reality. As the year draws to a close, the robotics sector has witnessed a surge of breakthroughs—from accelerated production of collaborative robotic arms to emerging advancements in humanoid robots and embodied intelligence—signaling the rapid approach of a more intelligent and efficient future.
Collaborative Robots: Scaling Production for Smarter Manufacturing
Collaborative robots, serving as crucial platforms for human-machine cooperation, continue to experience growing market demand. AUBO Robotics achieved a significant milestone by successfully delivering its 12,000th collaborative robotic arm in 2025, demonstrating formidable production capabilities. The company operates two production bases equipped with 361 flexible production lines for collaborative arms, boasting over 70% automation rates. With 223 inspection devices and 575 production standards, AUBO has established robust "intelligent manufacturing" capacity. This achievement marks not only a milestone for the company but also reflects broader progress in the collaborative robotics sector.
Humanoid Robots: Accelerating Industry Chain Development
Widely regarded as the future of robotics, humanoid systems are seeing accelerated industry chain development and expanding application scenarios:
- Strategic partnerships multiply: Huaxiang Qiyuan partnered with DH-Robotics to jointly develop, manufacture and market dexterous hands for general-purpose humanoids. The company also secured a contract with a leading domestic robotic joint manufacturer for partial joint production over two years. Meanwhile, Ningbo Dongli entered a global strategic partnership with Nidec Corporation as exclusive manufacturing partner for robotic reducer components.
- Domestic core components advance: Zhongyuan Nei Power's subsidiary became core supplier of joint modules for Ningbo Puzhi Future Robotics' humanoids. Wankai New Materials' subsidiary secured a $138,000 contract to provide lightweight arm components and assembly services.
- Technology innovation accelerates: Ubtech's logistics subsidiary UQI partnered with Volcano Engine to explore large model applications in humanoids, unmanned vehicles and industrial robots. Junaopanshi received multimillion-dollar orders for brain-inspired embodied intelligence solutions from a leading smart manufacturing firm.
- Capital markets engage: Zhenyu Technology announced plans to raise $258 million via convertible bonds, including $39 million earmarked for humanoid precision module and component industrialization.
Embodied Intelligence Expands Across Industries
Embodied intelligence—robots' ability to learn and execute tasks through environmental interaction—is finding growing applications:
- Industrial manufacturing: Galaxy Universal will deploy over 1,000 embodied intelligence robots across Baida Precision's ecosystem to advance industrial applications. Lingyi Group's robotics unit partnered with Zhejiang Xiantong to accelerate commercialization across four collaborative areas.
- Photovoltaic maintenance: Huibo Robotics secured a contract for 10,000 dry-hanging PV panel cleaning robots from China Energy Engineering Corporation.
- Retail services: Cable-driven AI robot stores "Robot MART" initiated large-scale deliveries for pop-up shops in premium Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou locations. Chunguang Technology secured $595,000 in orders for two retail robot models.
Standards and Innovation Drive Quality Growth
Industry standardization and technological innovation are propelling high-quality development. SICK China contributed to newly released national standards for 3D visual inspection in metallurgy. JAZZ Robotics unveiled a full-stack embodied intelligence solution featuring integrated perception, decision-making and execution. Kailong High-Tech partnered with Xiganghu Robotics Institute to release intelligent force detection equipment for dexterous hand performance validation.
New Products Address Diverse Needs
Manufacturers continue introducing innovative solutions:
- Mobile robots: Hikrobot launched medium-load models (60-80kg) for automotive, machining and logistics. Linde introduced new pallet transporters for confined spaces. Bluecore Robotics' multi-brand scheduling system passed acceptance testing.
- Consumer robotics: Vbot Dynamics debuted its first consumer quadruped robot.
- Medical advancements: MicroPort Robotics received NMPA approval for its UniPath bronchoscopy navigation system.
- Component innovation: Fourier announced upcoming six-axis force sensors designed for humanoids.
Industry Ecosystem Continues Expansion
New entrants like Jiangshan Oupai Robotics Technology are broadening the industrial landscape, while regional collaborations like Ubtech's 1,000th Walker S2 rollout in Liuzhou and subsequent Guangxi partnership demonstrate growing geographical integration in robotics development.
The robotics sector concludes the year demonstrating vibrant growth across collaborative systems, humanoid development, embodied intelligence applications and technological innovation—pointing toward increasingly transformative impacts across industries as artificial intelligence, 5G and IoT technologies continue advancing.