Recently, I came across videos of the new robots from Xiaopeng and Yushutech, and I was completely amazed—the speed of progress is simply outrageous, as if they are rocketing forward. I used to think that robots were still far from our daily lives, but now it seems they have quietly evolved to the point where they can ‘arm wrestle’ with humans. In terms of agility and intelligence, they are on a completely different level compared to just a year ago.
First, let’s talk about these two eye-opening new robots. The IRON robot just released by Xiaopeng is practically infused with ‘black technology.’ Standing at 178 cm tall and weighing 70 kg, it is almost identical in proportion to a human, with a golden waist-hip ratio of 0.62. It is covered in 1.2 mm thick flexible skin, which conceals a micro air pump that can simulate the rise and fall of human breathing, making it look incredibly lifelike. The most impressive aspect is its ‘brain’ and ‘senses,’ equipped with three self-developed Turing AI chips, with a total computing power of up to 3000 TOPS, equivalent to the combined processing power of several hundred high-end computers. Moreover, the three chips back each other up, allowing for independent decision-making without needing to connect to the internet. Its skin is embedded with 3200 pressure sensors and 1500 temperature sensors, with fingertip tactile resolution reaching 0.1N, making it capable of delicate tasks like holding eggs or squeezing balloons, with a touch feedback delay of less than 5 milliseconds, faster than human reaction times.
Next, we have the H2 robot from Yushutech, which takes the route of an ‘all-around athletic champion.’ This robot stands 180 cm tall and weighs 70 kg, featuring 31 degrees of freedom—6 in each arm, 7 in each leg, and 3 in the torso. It can perform ballet and martial arts effortlessly, and it even showcased professional dance moves at an exhibition, with poses more elegant than those of real humans. Its running speed is astonishing, reaching over 5 meters per second. Last year, Yushutech’s H1 robot could only reach a maximum speed of 3.3 meters per second, meaning it has increased speed by over 50% in just one year, making it the fastest humanoid robot in the world. What’s even more remarkable is its cost-effectiveness; the CEO of Yushutech stated that in the next 2-5 years, the cost of such robots may only be equivalent to the price of 5 air conditioners, making them affordable for ordinary households.
Comparing to robots from a year ago, the advancements are like a ‘dimensionality reduction attack.’ Last year, Xiaopeng’s robot did not have a solid-state battery, resulting in poor endurance, but now the IRON uses the industry’s first solid-state battery, with an energy density of 2.3 kWh, a weight reduction of 30%, and a 30% increase in battery capacity, capable of withstanding temperatures of 250°C, ensuring maximum safety. Yushutech’s H1 from last year could run, but its motion coordination was far inferior to the H2. Now, the H2 can not only run and jump but also perform complex actions like backflips and martial arts sparring, with over 20 muscle movements in its face to create micro-expressions, making interactions feel more personable.
From an industry-wide perspective, the rate of progress is even more astonishing. A year ago, the localization rate of core components for humanoid robots was still low, heavily relying on imports, which kept costs high. Now, the installation rate of domestic reducers in heavy-load robots has increased by over 50% year-on-year, the penetration rate of servo systems in 3C electronics and lithium battery industries has exceeded 55%, and the self-research rate of controllers has also significantly improved. These advancements have directly improved the repeat positioning accuracy of robots from ±20 arc seconds last year to now within ±10 arc seconds, with motion error rates below 0.1%, allowing stable operation even on complex terrains. More critically, the success rate of robots completing tasks in dynamic environments has risen from about 75% last year to 92% now, equivalent to upgrading from a ‘novice’ to a ‘skilled worker.’
Looking at these figures, I am increasingly convinced that in 3 to 5 years, robots will be able to handle most of the physical labor done by humans. Currently, the application of industrial robots has covered 60 major categories and 168 subcategories in our country, from automobile manufacturing to electronic assembly, from logistics handling to agricultural harvesting, their presence is ubiquitous. According to predictions, by 2030, the penetration rate of industrial robots in our country will reach 24.2%, with 480 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers, nearly ten times the figure from 2015.
Moreover, the future cost of employing robots will certainly be far lower than that of human labor. Currently, the average price of an industrial robot is about 182,000 yuan, which is expected to drop to 147,000 yuan by 2030. As the localization rate of core components exceeds 70%, the overall cost can further decrease by 15%-20%. The CEO of Yushutech even predicts that the cost of humanoid robots may only be equivalent to the price of 5 air conditioners, just a few thousand yuan. In contrast, the average monthly income of migrant workers has reached 4,072 yuan, amounting to nearly 50,000 yuan a year, and it continues to rise annually. A robot can be used for 5 to 8 years, with an average annual cost of just 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, without the need for social security, breaks, or rest, operating 24/7, making it far more cost-effective than hiring human labor.
This cost and efficiency advantage will fundamentally change the global industrial landscape. Previously, developed countries would transfer low-value-added physical labor industries to third-world countries due to cheaper labor there. But now, it’s different; robots are more cost-effective and efficient than cheap labor. For instance, South Korea currently has 932 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers, while Germany has 371. These developed countries can easily use robots for low-value-added industries like garment processing and toy manufacturing without needing to relocate factories abroad.
This also means that developed countries will no longer need to import large numbers of immigrants to supplement their labor force. Many developed countries previously faced labor shortages, such as the U.S. agriculture sector, which annually lacks over 200,000 workers, relying on immigrants to fill the gap. However, the application of robots in agriculture is becoming increasingly widespread, with tasks like sowing, fertilizing, and harvesting being automated, achieving higher efficiency than human labor. The density of robots in our country has increased from 49 units per 10,000 people in 2015 to 470 units per 10,000 people in 2023, ranking third globally, having increased more than ninefold in just eight years. At this rate, in a few years, developed countries will be able to use robots to address labor shortages, significantly reducing the need for immigrant labor.
It must be said that the speed of progress in robotics has truly exceeded everyone’s expectations. From being able to perform simple actions a year ago to now being able to run, jump, and perform intricate operations, and looking ahead to the low-cost applications that will become widespread in the next 3-5 years, this technological revolution is arriving rapidly and forcefully. In the future, factories may be filled with tireless robots, logistics warehouses bustling with robots sorting and transporting, and fields where robots perform precise agricultural tasks. Our ways of living and working will be completely transformed. Looking back now, those once distant sci-fi scenarios are actually getting closer to us, all thanks to the astonishing speed of progress in robotics technology.