China Has Grand Plans for Humanoid Robots
An article from the South China Morning Post on July 17th, titled "As the Population Ages, China Wants Humanoid Robots to Automate Elderly Care and Handle Heavy Work," described a scene at a technology expo in Shanghai where a humanoid robot (as shown in the figure) took a few steps. Although it is still unable to jump on its own, it demonstrates the significant progress made by China's robotics industry. At first glance, it may seem a bit clumsy and not as perfect as the robots in science fiction movies, but this device can grasp objects and "communicate" using sign language. Developers believe its future lies primarily in the homes of the elderly, providing them with companionship and much-needed assistance.
Amidst rising tensions and technological competition between China and the United States, China is turning its attention to high-end manufacturing, giving rise to numerous humanoid robot developers. Industry insiders say that humanoid robots, which can not only skillfully use tools but also respond to human emotions, are expected to help fill the gap in elderly care services caused by an aging population and a shrinking workforce.
As a new frontier in the global tech competition, China's humanoid robot industry entered a period of explosive growth last year, with the industry's scale increasing to 3.91 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 85.7%, and it is expected to exceed 20 billion yuan by 2026. Robots are taking on much of the labor that cannot be completed due to a decreasing workforce and are becoming an important new engine for economic growth. Humanoid robots can not only be efficient helpers in households but also help businesses reduce costs and produce more standardized products.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued an ambitious blueprint document last November ("Guiding Opinions on the Innovative Development of Humanoid Robots" - editor's note), proposing that by 2025, China will mass-produce humanoid robots with artificial intelligence "brains, cerebellums, and limbs."
Industry entrepreneur Qiu Yufeng (phonetic) believes that for China, which is gradually entering an aging society, the value of humanoid robots is not only in solving the shortage of technical workers but also in the potential for significant changes in elderly care. "Human-like robots can interact with the elderly, providing emotional support, companionship, and other assistance. In contrast, human caregivers are expensive and may potentially abuse the elderly."
In the past decade, China has gone from lagging behind to catching up and even leading in humanoid robot technology patents. With the booming industry and enterprises, China is not far from its goal of mass-producing humanoid robots by 2025. Qiu Yufeng said, "As companies continue to learn and integrate resources, China may build a complete supply chain within a few years. But time is of the essence."
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