Korean Media: The "Year of Mass Production" for Humanoid Robots, South Korea Lags Far Behind China!
On January 27, the Korean media "Herald Economic" published an article stating that an analysis shows that Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, is still far behind China in the commercialization of humanoid robots.
Chinese companies, including UBTech, are expected to use their supply chain advantages to designate this year as the "year of mass production" for humanoid robots, while Boston Dynamics is still in the testing phase.
Recently, the securities media TipRanks pointed out, "Boston Dynamics is testing humanoid robots, but has not yet determined when to mass-produce them."
TipRanks pointed out that Chinese humanoid robot companies have an advantage over American robot companies like Boston Dynamics and Tesla because they continuously improve their technology based on operational experience after product launch.
Currently, there are more than 150 humanoid robot companies in China. Among them, UBTech and Unitree Technology have already delivered thousands of humanoid robots, and are expected to start full-scale mass production next year. According to the analysis, they are ahead of Boston Dynamics in the development and mass production of humanoid robots, and are likely to dominate the market.
TipRanks pointed out, "Many places use Chinese-made humanoid robots because these products are already on the market, and speed is crucial for investors."
Humanoid robots, which resemble humans, have broader applications in industrial environments compared to quadrupedal robots or other types of robots. This is because most factories design their spaces and work areas with human anatomy in mind.
Morgan Stanley Securities predicted in a report that by 2050, the global market size for humanoid robots will reach $5 trillion.
Companies such as Boston Dynamics and Tesla in the United States are actively developing humanoid robots to take advantage of this positive market outlook. However, some forecasts suggest that China will be the first to achieve mass production of humanoid robots this year.
CNBC analysis points out that China is leveraging its rapid growth experience in advanced manufacturing industries such as electric vehicles and applying it to the robotics field. Additionally, electric vehicles and humanoid robots share part of the parts supply chain, including batteries, which gives Chinese robot companies a cost advantage and is considered an important advantage.
In fact, according to assessments, China has established a vertical integration system in the humanoid robot supply chain, from drive motors to AI software.
The research company Counterpoint Research stated, "China's strong supply chain gives robot companies a significant cost advantage over companies in other regions."
If Chinese companies rapidly mass-produce humanoid robots using their supply chain advantages and bring them to the global market, the market share of Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, will inevitably be squeezed.
Additionally, Chinese companies hold a considerable market share in the global robot supply chain, especially in the key components of humanoid robots - motors. This may put pressure on Boston Dynamics in the future.
In short, Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, is still in the "蹒跚学步" stage in the commercialization of humanoid robots, while Chinese companies, with their strong supply chain, are expected to quickly dominate the market.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855470414053385/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.