Autonomous robot in China debuts, equipped to operate independently and exchange batteries without human intervention
In a significant leap for the robotics industry, UBTech, a leading Chinese robotics company, has unveiled the Walker S2 humanoid robot - the world's first humanoid robot capable of autonomous battery swapping, marking a pivotal step towards integrating humanoid robots more deeply into China's smart factories and industrial automation.
Standing approximately 170 cm (5.6 feet) tall, the Walker S2 boasts anthropomorphic bipedal locomotion with a human-like walking gait, and is equipped with vision sensors that enable it to detect charged batteries autonomously. Its face includes a small display screen to communicate status to nearby workers, and safety features like an emergency stop button are embedded.
The robot's dual-battery system, in conjunction with an onboard intelligent energy management module, allows the Walker S2 to swap depleted batteries autonomously at docking stations in about three minutes, while switching to a backup battery to avoid downtime. This innovative feature enables near-continuous operation in industrial settings, promoting 24/7 continuous deployment in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.
UBTech envisions the Walker S2 primarily for logistics, assembly support, in-line metrology, and automated inspection in dynamic industrial environments. The company has already collaborated with electric vehicle manufacturers like Nio and BYD to test and utilize their humanoid robots on production lines. In fact, an earlier version of the robot, Walker S1, has been successfully deployed in Chinese smart factories for automakers like BYD, Geely, and Nio, where robots helped improve sorting efficiency by up to 120% and reduced labor costs by 65%.
The autonomous battery-swapping technology significantly reduces operational downtime, a key hurdle for mobile humanoid robots, particularly in power management without human intervention. According to a 2024 report by the International Federation of Robotics, China uses 470 robots per 10,000 employees, surpassing industrial powers like Germany and Japan, and ranks third in the world for the use of robots in manufacturing, following South Korea and Singapore.
UBTech has yet to release full technical specifications, pricing, or an official release date for the Walker S2. However, the robot's capabilities indicate a promising future for humanoid robots in China's advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors.
**Key Features:**
- Height: ~170 cm (5.6 ft) - Weight: Not specified for S2, S1 was about 43 kg - Battery System: Dual batteries with autonomous hot-swapping - Swap Time: Approximately 3 minutes - Locomotion: Human-like bipedal walking - Applications: Logistics, assembly support, metrology, inspection - Industrial Users: BYD, Geely, Nio (previous model S1 deployments) - Operational Benefit: 24/7 continuous operation, reduced labor costs - Key Innovation: First humanoid robot with fully autonomous battery swapping
This breakthrough in battery swap autonomy positions the Walker S2 as a potential game-changer in China's advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors, setting the stage for a future where humanoid robots play an increasingly important role in industrial automation.
The Walker S2, equipped with artificial-intelligence and autonomous battery-swapping technology, is set to revolutionize China's advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors, given its potential to facilitate 24/7 continuous operation and reduce labor costs significantly. With the capability of hot-swapping depleted batteries in about three minutes, this humanoid robot by UBTech could become a game-changer in the integration of artificial-intelligence in industrial environments.
