The final weekly update of China’s embodied AI sector. Personally, I think UBTECH’s Walker S2 is China’s Robot of the Year for 2025. I also expect robot-operated outlets—led by brands such as Galbot, Astribot and AI² Robotics—to scale rapidly in 2026.

Highlights include the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Unitree’s progress towards an IPO, Agibot’s rapid scale-up, and a surge of investment led by companies such as Galbot, XSense, Galaxea and TARS. UBTECH stood out with major data-centre robot contracts, while Xpeng drew attention with the debut of its humanoid robot IRON. Despite strong policy support and heavy funding, large-scale real-world deployment remains limited, with many robots still focused on data collection, research and demonstrations.

Rare candid views on AI’s limits, Shanghai’s push to build an embodied-AI hub, Unitree’s humanoid “App Store”, fresh funding across robots and core components, and, similar to Agibot, another startup acquired  listed company outside the sector. China’s humanoid update 12E3: rare candid views on AI’s limits, Shanghai’s push to build an embodied-AI hub, Unitree’s humanoid “App Store”, fresh funding across robots and core components, and, similar to Agibot, another startup acquired  listed company outside the sector. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWrcmIO49CU

This week in China’s embodied AI:• AGIBOT rolled out its 5,000th mass-produced humanoid.• Aimoga delivered its 1,000th robotic dog of 2025.• Atomrobot unveiled its upgraded ATOM01 with a practical Stewart-platform waist for industrial use.• UBTECH secured a 50-million-yuan sales deal, formed a joint venture with Beijing X-Humanoid, and launched its new consumer robot “Youzai”.• Chinese magazine Yaowen–Jiaozi listed “embodied intelligence” among 2025’s top 10 buzzwords.• Midea introduced its six-armed wheeled humanoid MIRO U, while major funding rounds were announced by Deep Robotics, Engine AI, Casiahand Robotics, and Lumos Robotics.• LiDAR maker RoboSense reported 150,000 units delivered in November and confirmed its sensors are now integrated into Engine AI’s T800 humanoid and PUDU’s D5 quadrupeds.

Engine AI T800 Launch; Agibot LinkSoul; PUDU D5; GSP entering the robotics sector; Daimon Robotics’ new funding; LimX Dynamics’ creative robot applications; and influencers and cross-border robot collaborations

Key highlights from this week’s update:💡 Is There an AI Bubble? Alibaba & Lenovo say no💰 Major Financing: Beijing’s startups dominate🏭 Real-World Deployment & Supply Chain Expansion📜 Policy Update: China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology appoints experts to the National Standardization Committee for Humanoid Robots🎓 Talent Pipeline: Seven universities apply to establish an Embodied Intelligence undergraduate major, with the industry talent gap estimated at one million

This week’s China embodied-intelligence update covers major moves in humanoid robotics — from headline-grabbing demos to surprising government-backed orders. Xpeng’s IRON stunned the public with an ultra-natural walking display, while  Wuhan opened China’s first “7S” humanoid robot store, offering sales, customisation, finance and full lifecycle services.

China Robots Now November Episode 1: DOBOT unveils its new Rover X1 quadruped priced around US$1,050; Leju’s Kuavo humanoid carries the torch at China’s 15th National Games;Agibot launches a Robot Leasing Ecosystem Alliance; UBTECH’s UQI debuts its automated logistics 2.0 system, and finally Galbot’s NavFoM foundation model makes a robotic dog smart.

In this episode:🤖 Mini humanoids go mainstream — Booster K1, NOETIX Bumi, and Lumos Luxiaoming lead the trend of small, agile robots.🏃 Agibot’s double breakthrough — partnership with Anta + launch of the zero-code robot creation platform Lingchuang.💰 Big funding rounds — Leju Robot’s RMB1.5 billion pre-IPO financing, FiveAges’ new embodied AI foundation model FAM-1, and more.🏭 Industrial applications — JD Logistics announces plans to deploy millions of robots, autonomous vehicles, and drones in the next five years.🎙️ Featured quote:“For humanoid robots to achieve widespread adoption, they must first reach a certain scale of shipments.” — Wang Xingxing, CEO of Unitree👉 Subscribe for weekly updates on China’s embodied intelligence, humanoid robotics, and AI ecosystem.#ChinaRobots #HumanoidRobots #Agibot #Unitree #JDLogistics #AI #EmbodiedIntelligence #RobotNews

This October, Episode 3 takes a look at new launches from Unitree and Booster, as well as recent progress made by UBTECH and Agibot.

Highlights this week:Agibot opens China’s first open embodied intelligence experience centre in Wuxi, where visitors can see humanoid robots and robotic dogs in action.At the 25th CIIF in Shanghai, companies showcased industrial humanoid applications:Fourier’s FOCUS system coordinating GRx robots.PsiBot + Siemens demoing a robot-run supermarket.Beatbot raises RMB1 billion from Meituan’s Dragonball Capital; its AquaSense 2 cleaner expands to 38 countries.EIR Technology unveils the Skywalker II humanoid robot (165cm, 55kg, 15kg payload, 5 km/h speed).Beijing opens China’s largest humanoid training ground, generating 6M+ data entries yearly.Cyan launches the world’s first Emotional Gait Foundation Model, with Orac robots simulating moods like happiness, anger, and confidence.UBTECH secures a RMB30M contract for its Walker S robots, to be delivered by year-end.Unitree to unveil a 1.8m humanoid later this year; its upgraded G1 now features “anti-gravity mode” for advanced stability.

This week’s highlights: Policy moves — China pushes humanoid adoption in auto, logistics, and power inspection, and launches 32 pilot projects for eldercare robots.Company news — Leju unveils Roban 2; UBTECH partners with Terminus on AIoT; Agibot earns China’s first CR certificate and launches the Genie Trailblazer Program.Funding — Hangzhou’s Differential Robotics raises nearly 200M yuan for UAVs in complex environments.Industry — Zoomlion showcases humanoids built on self-developed core components.Start-up watch — Beijing’s Phybot debuts flexible bipedal robots with new PhyArc actuators. Aviation — Two XPENG AEROHT flying cars collide during a rehearsal at the Changchun Air Show.

The strategy of AI² Robotics, Kepler and Engine AI to expand applications overthe next three years,

the hype of R1 robot by Ant Group’s Robbyant,

and the youngest startup XYZ Embodied AI raising 200 million yuan.  

Highlights include Pudu Robotics security breach, "Robot Wolf" at military parade, OneStar Robotics by billionaire’s son, Agibot expanding ecosystem, and X Square Robot , NOETIX and Ropet AI raising funds.

Let's look back at the World Humanoid Robot Games — and asks: how humanoid, how international were they really? Plus updates on new applications and financing in China’s embodied AI.

Shanghai unveiled a plan toboost the embodied intelligence industry, while the World Robot Conference inBeijing showcased more than 1,500 exhibits from over 200 companies. Robots viedto prove they can work, dance, and entertain.

In the past week, here are the highlights in China’s embodied AI sector, LimX Dynamics (逐际动力) recently opened pre-orders for its full-size humanoid robot LimX Oli, starting at around US$22,000. Unitree’s Vice General Manager, Wang Qizhou王启舟, pointed out the widespread adoption of humanoid robots still faces significant challenges. Founder and CEO, Wang Xingxing, and Agibot co-founder and CTO Peng Zhihui, were among 100 private-sector entrepreneurs recognised as “Outstanding Builders of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics”. Wang Chuang, President of AgiBot's General Business Line (Yuanzheng A2), said in an interview with NewNewthing under Yicai Magazine that around 80% of humanoid robot companies are likely to fail during this go-to-market phase. JD.com, the e-commerce giant in China, made four investment into embodied AI in July alone. Beijing-based Galaxea Ai, 星海图, joined pilotscale embodied intelligence hub in Hangzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. Tencent’s Robotics X Lab, along with Futian laboratory, released Tairos钛螺丝 platform to accelerate the development of embodied intelligence.

Tairos is designed to enhance the critical software capabilities needed by both robot hardware manufacturers and application developers. Built around two pillars —large AI models and cloud services. The AI models include complex task planning, Multimodalperception, and perception-actionintegration. The cloud services supportthe entire development lifecycle, allowing developers to conduct simulation,training, and data management online. Zhang highlighted five principles ofTairos: openness, empowerment, application, connection and responsibility.

This episode shows thehighlights in the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference(WAIC). Itincludes X-Humanoid北京人创, Agibot智元，UniTree 宇树，Fourier傅立叶，KEENON擎朗 and more

1. Agibot receives strategicinvestment from CP Group;

2.Unitree plans IPO filing this year;

3. UBTECHshowcases autonomous battery replacement;

4, Hubei unveils humanoid robot;

5. JD.com ramps up investment in humanoid start-ups ;

6. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang visits Beijing