Chinese tech company UBTech has unveiled the world’s first humanoid robot capable of autonomously swapping its own batteries, marking a major breakthrough in robotics. Revealed in Shenzhen, the Walker S2 robot demonstrated its ability to replace a depleted battery with a fresh one in just three minutes—without human help—allowing for continuous operation without downtime.
The robot’s hot-swappable battery system significantly boosts efficiency in factory settings by eliminating the need to pause for recharging. This advancement reduces maintenance costs and supports round-the-clock production.
Fan Congming of the Shenzhen AI Industry Association noted that the technology overcomes a major limitation in robotics: short operation times. With battery-swapping, robots can work non-stop, making them more viable for manufacturing roles.
Humanoid robots are increasingly being adopted in automotive and electronics industries, where they perform tasks like handling, inspection, polishing, welding, and heavy lifting. Technological advances are accelerating factory automation across China.
According to a 2024 industry report, China’s humanoid robot market is projected to grow from 2.76 billion yuan ($384.62 million) in 2024 to 75 billion yuan by 2029. Experts predict that humanoid robots will first dominate manufacturing, then expand into service sectors and households as costs decrease and adoption scales up.
Credit: CGTN
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