South Korean media: China has an advantage over the US in human-shaped robot competition! On May 3rd, the South Korean media "The Korea Herald" published an article stating that China is gaining an advantage over the US in the human-shaped robot competition. One of the companies representing Chinese robotics power is Unitree Technology. The company showcased its human-shaped robot G1 at its headquarters, allowing visitors to kick it to test its balance capabilities. Unitree demonstrated robots performing kung fu moves and dancing like humans. The company continues to improve robot technology driven by open-source software, showcasing its technical strength. Goldman Sachs estimates that by next year, the global market size for human-shaped robots will reach $250 billion. Bernstein analysts predict that by 2050, annual robot sales may reach 50 million units, while Citibank predicts that by 2040, sales of human-shaped robots will reach 648 million units, and Bank of America predicts that by 2060, sales of human-shaped robots will reach 3 billion units. In the US, large tech companies such as Tesla, Google, and Meta, as well as robotics startups like Boston Dynamics, Figure, and Agility Robotics are all developing human-shaped robots. In contrast, Japanese and European robotics companies focus on developing collaborative robots that work alongside humans, rather than human-shaped robots. Researchers say that China's tight electronics and electric vehicle supply chain gives it an edge over the US in the field of human-shaped robots. This is because many parts required for human-shaped robots are already produced in China and used in electric vehicles, including batteries and LiDARs. Of course, the US remains a leader in motion component technology. Johnson Wan, an industry analyst at Jefferies Investment Bank, said, "China excels in hardware, but the US still holds an advantage in innovation and software." However, Bank of America believes that cheaper component prices in China are an advantage. If Tesla's second-generation Optimus robot uses Chinese components, it is expected to be about one-third cheaper than non-Chinese components. Additionally, the number of component suppliers in China far exceeds that of the US, which is also an advantage. Bernstein analysts believe this is similar to China's dominance in the electric vehicle market. Bernstein pointed out in a recent report: "China is rapidly expanding product offerings and use cases, while US companies seem to be pursuing optimal solutions. By comparison, China is adopting a 'natural selection' approach across multiple product models." Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831098930484426/ Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.