From robot dogs to helpers, China puts robotics ambitions on display at world conference
Organizers said about 3,000 products were on display as Chinese firms pushed to move robots from demos into factories.
- On Wednesday, China launched the 2026 World Robot Conference, showcasing around 3,000 products as companies move robotics beyond demonstrations into real-world factory applications.
- Weeks before the event, the Federal Communications Commission banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing potential cybersecurity and national security risks targeting China.
- Unitree and UBTECH Robotics demonstrated diverse capabilities, with Unitree models boxing and dancing while other machines performed factory-floor tasks like moving components.
- Despite increasingly sophisticated displays, experts say many humanoid robots remain more impressive as performers than practical workers, even as some models reach 168,000 yuan.
- Jiao Jichao, deputy president of UBTECH Robotics, highlighted new emotional-care humanoids capable of talking, facial expressions, and hand movement, now available to individual buyers.
14 Articles
14 Articles
From spectacle to scale: why China’s robotics firms face a ‘critical juncture’
At China’s annual World Robot Conference (WRC) that kicked off on Wednesday, the hall was filled with humanoid robots wowing visitors with feats of dexterity: from playing table tennis to performing drum solos. These eye-catching displays have helped China’s robotics industry win global attention – and raise huge amounts of capital – over the past couple of years. But at this year’s summit, the overriding sentiment among executives, investors an…
In Pictures: Beijing World Robot Conference Highlights and New Product Launches
A toy robotic dog lies on the floor next to people's legs at the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China, August 19, 2026. (Reuters)People take images of robotic arms peeling a cucumber at the Dexmal booth at the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China, August 19, 2026. (Reuters)People gather next to humanoid robots wearing wedding dresses at the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China, August 19, 2026. (Reuters)People take …
Do you want to see if a robot can fold a piece of cloth? Are you interested in getting a robot dog or even a humanoid robot that could offer some emotional support? Or maybe you want to see robots boxing and dancing? Come to Beijing.
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- 39% of the sources lean Left, 38% of the sources are Center
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