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China is rapidly advancing its industrial robotics development as part of its strategic push into Industry 5.0 and artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced manufacturing. It is on the brink of hitting an aggressive industrial automation robotics target of 500 robots per 10,000 workers.
This is driven by a new class of humanoid robots, powered by AI and micro-tolerant, ultra-precise CNC machining, according to Chinese CNC machining company Yijin Hardware.
The development of humanoid robotics technology is gaining momentum with the evolution of AI, as humanoids require more sophisticated capabilities to support the sensor-based perception and motion control they need to operate in complex industrial environments and interact with humans.
Is China poised to lead the world in industrial automation and robotics?
Key Takeaways
- While China leads in robotics production by scale, competing with leaders Singapore and South Korea depends on achieving precision and deep AI integration in humanoid robotics.
- China’s ability to domestically produce nearly all robot components gives it a strategic edge, lowering barriers to the development and scaling of humanoid robots.
- Advancements like China’s DeepSeek LLM are enabling local developers to build more sophisticated humanoid robots.
- Unlike traditional industrial robots, humanoids are designed to navigate and interact in human environments, often requiring AI, mobility, and social intelligence.
- The key feature of humanoids is their ability to mimic human behavior, with physical interaction and expressive communication, potentially extending uses beyond industrial environments to people-oriented roles.
China to Advance Humanoid Robotics With AI Integration
China had already reached 470 industrial robots per 10,000 workers in 2023, placing it third globally behind South Korea and Singapore, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Analysts expect continued year-on-year growth to push China’s robot density beyond its 2025 target before the year ends.
Yijin Hardware gathered data on global industrial robot deployment, AI adoption, and automation readiness to evaluate the leading countries in manufacturing automation, highlighting the robot density and AI integration rates of top economies.
The data reflects the latest figures from the International Federation of Robotics (2023), Statista (2024), and Volza (2023-2024) on industrial robotics solutions.
China leads the world in production volume and infrastructure, whereas many Western original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 supplier factories face growing shortages in qualified CNC partners capable of meeting the micro-tolerance demands of humanoid robotics.
Gavin Yi, CEO of Yijin Hardware, said:
“China’s rapid rise in robot density is no surprise given its strategic focus on automation. However, overtaking Singapore’s lead in industrial robotics will require more than just volume. The key lies in precision and AI integration to match the sophistication of robots already deployed in countries like Singapore and Korea.”
China’s established manufacturing base gives it an advantage, as it produces almost all the components required to build robots. The launch of the DeepSeek large language model (LLM) and other home-grown AI capabilities has taken the industry a step further, providing local developers with an edge in training data models to create more sophisticated humanoids.
Humanoid robots are a specialized category of robotics that differs from the traditional six industrial robot types, like articulated or SCARA robots. They are considered a distinct class because of their unique design and purpose.
While many humanoids use articulated joints, their goal isn’t just precision or speed – it is natural interaction. They combine AI for decision-making, sensors for perception, and actuators for lifelike movement.
Yi told Techopedia:
“AI integration is the foundation of humanoid robots of the future. While traditional automation systems have always been stupid and rigid, humanoid robots are becoming more and more intelligent as well as adaptive. They make real-time decisions and learn from their environment using high-level AI, which is a leap forward for industries seeking to stay ahead of the competition in Industry 5.0 times.”
Yi added:
“The biggest innovation here is the integration of AI with micro-precise CNC machining. The synergy allows robots to perform tasks that require not only speed but also unmatched precision.
“Humanoid robots can now take on high-precision roles that, before, required human labor, like CNC machining and fine assembly, thereby allowing manufacturers to optimize operations, reduce error rates, and achieve higher productivity.”
Major Robot Types
| Robot Type | Mobility | Dexterity | Common Uses | Typical Environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articulated | Multiple rotary joints | High (robotic arms) | Welding, assembly, and packaging | Factory floors |
| Cartesian | Linear (X, Y, Z axes) | Moderate | CNC machining, pick-and-place | Industrial cells |
| SCARA | Horizontal arm motion | High (in-plane) | Electronics assembly, fast handling | Small-scale production |
| Delta | Parallel arms (tripod) | Limited | High-speed sorting, food packaging | Conveyor systems |
| Cylindrical | Rotary + linear motion | Moderate | Material transfer, machine tending | Industrial automation |
| Polar (Spherical) | Spherical movement arc | Moderate | Injection molding, die casting | Limited-space setups |
| Quadruped | Four-legged walking | Low (limited or no arms) | Search & rescue, terrain inspection | Outdoors, uneven terrain |
| Humanoid | Bipedal (human-like) | High (hands and arms) | Service, education, entertainment, disaster response | Human-centered: homes, labs |
Analysts at US investment bank Morgan Stanley expect China to have the highest number of humanoid robots in use by 2050, at 302.3 million.
They expect about 90% of humanoids, or about 930 million units globally, to be used for repetitive, simple, and structured work, primarily in industrial and commercial applications.
Sheng Zhong, Morgan Stanley’s Head of Industrials Research, said:
“It is becoming apparent that national support for ’embodied AI’ may be far greater in China than in any other nation, driving continued innovation and capital formation. In our opinion, China’s lead in AI-robotics may need to widen before rivals, including the US, pay closer attention.”
Companies in the Chinese supply chain are working on different approaches to improve the performance of their components, such as using new design structures, new materials, refined manufacturing processes, and AI algorithms, to address the precision gap, according to Morgan Stanley.
Industrial Adoption to Kickstart Global Humanoid Robotics Market
The use of robotics in manufacturing is set to provide the training data and real-world experience required to develop humanoid robots that can be deployed in a range of industries in the 2030s, according to analysts at Bank of America (BofA) Global Research.
Global technology giants, including Tesla, have all started to develop humanoid robots, which will help take them from proof-of-concept to large-scale adoption. The bank expects humanoid robot development to accelerate with the help of robust AI development, more advanced 3D perception and control technologies, and a decrease in costs for computing power and components.
The industrial robotics market is set to lead a growth in shipments to 1 million in 2030-2035, up from 18,000 units in 2025. The bank had previously forecast annual shipments of 400,000 units.
BofA predicts adoption will unfold in three stages:
- 2025–2027 – Development: Small batches of factory robots work in structured settings, for handling, assembly, sorting, and quality checks, to accumulate real-world data for further training and model fine-tuning.
- 2028–2034 – Commercial use: Humanoids will be increasingly integrated with AI LLMs, enabling real-time interaction. Improved design will enable the use of different robot types in education, business services, flexible manufacturing, and outdoor engineering, lifting annual shipments past 1 million.
- 2035 onward – Mass adoption: Affordable robots with well-developed functionalities will enter homes, pushing annual volumes beyond 10 million.
Starting with industrial adoption and branching out in the future, robotics has the potential to transform the way humans complete tasks in various environments.
Industrial robots excel in precision, speed, and repeatability, while quadrupeds dominate in mobility and stability on rugged terrain, although they lack fine manipulation.
Humanoids take the technology to the next stage. More than just articulated robots, humanoids are built for human interaction and adaptability that will eventually take them from tightly structured, industrial environments to unstructured settings like healthcare, housework, and even entertainment.
The Bottom Line
As global industries race toward smarter, more adaptive production, automated industrial robotics is no longer a futuristic concept – it is the basis of Industry 5.0. China’s AI-fueled humanoid advancements competing with industry leaders Singapore and South Korea indicate the competitive edge lies not just in deploying robots, but in integrating intelligence, agility, and human-centric design.
This will depend in part on the evolution of more advanced technologies and a decline in computing and component costs. BofA anticipates strong demand for humanoid robots driven by an aging population and labor shortages, as well as the expansion of possible uses, including “massive adoption” in household and service applications.
The coming years could see humanoid robots moving beyond the factory floor to widespread adoption in contexts ranging from security to education and elderly care.
FAQs
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References
- Top China CNC Machining Services For Custom Parts (Yijin Hardware)
- Humanoids: A $5 Trillion Market (Morgan Stanley)
- Transformation Humanoid robots 101 (Institute Bank of America)
