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Cleaning robots are one of the strengths of Chinese companies. Photo: Minh Khoi . |
In its monthly industrial output report released on March 17, China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released data on service robots for the first time.
NBS data shows that service robot output in China jumped 35.7% to nearly 1.5 million units in the first two months of 2024. This figure far exceeds that of industrial robots, which produced about 91,000 units.
In contrast to industrial robots used in factories and manufacturing, service robots in China are broadly defined, including robots used in areas such as professional services, consumer goods, healthcare, and cleaning. Some prominent companies such as Unitree Robotics (Hangzhou) were even invited to a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and major enterprises.
The release of service robot data underscores the importance of robotics in China’s economy, according to SCMP . Robots are increasingly integrated into everyday life, from healthcare to hospitality to education.
Among them, cleaning robots, one of the main groups of service robots, are growing strongly. Among the top 5 manufacturers of cleaning robots in the fourth quarter of 2024, 4 are Chinese companies, according to a report released on March 16 by IDC .
One of the reasons China has thrived in the robotics industry is its internationally proven industrial manufacturing capabilities. Its manufacturers are capable of supplying large quantities and applying technological advances early.
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Mr. David Qiao (center), Vice President of Ecovacs Robotics. Photo: CL. |
“It is clear that our competitors, all from China, have the ability to change very quickly and also be very innovative,” said David Qiao, vice president of Ecovacs Robotics, during a meeting at the company’s headquarters in Suzhou, China.
Ecovacs is the largest manufacturer of vacuum and mop robots in China, accounting for about 40% of the market. The company is also expanding into many international markets, with many Asia-Pacific countries being key regions.
Although acknowledging the good production capacity of many of its domestic competitors, Ecovacs representatives said that the company still has strengths in both production and technology. According to the company's website, Ecovacs has invested 400 million yuan ( US$55 million ) in nearly 20 startups. From the subsidiary's research on motors, batteries, and sensors, Ecovacs can apply them back to their products.
“In addition to experience, we also have vertical product strengths, which is the ability to research and create new products from the most important components. Thanks to that, we meet both speed and quality for new products, which our competitors cannot do,” Mr. David Qian added.
In addition to its robot vacuum cleaners, the Suzhou-based company is also focusing on vacuum cleaners under the Tineco brand. Competing with Dyson, a major player in the field, Tineco is showing its flexibility by adding more features to its products, such as hot air mopping or automatic water draining.
The two brands of this group operate quite independently, but both focus on their strengths in robotics and cleaning technology. After gaining a position in the field of household cleaning, Ecovacs is “attacking” new areas such as industrial cleaning robots, automatic lawn mowers, window cleaners, home appliances and automatic cooking equipment. The new areas bring growth potential for the company with 2023 revenue reaching more than 2.14 billion USD .
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Humanoid robots, which cater to different user needs, are also becoming a craze in China. Photo: Kyodo/SCMP . |
Earlier this year, Unitree’s H1 dancing robot at the Spring Festival Gala went viral on Chinese social media. Simpler robots such as exoskeletons are becoming popular rentals at mountain resorts in China.
The Chinese government has also shown a clear focus on the field of robotics. In the latest work report of the country's "two sessions" meeting, the concept of "embodied intelligence" was mentioned for the first time. This concept refers to the application of artificial intelligence in physical systems, such as robots.
“Although there is still a long way to go, I believe that in 5-10 years, humanoid robots will become truly useful and affordable,” said David Qian about this vision.
Source: https://znews.vn/dang-sau-con-so-gay-bat-ngo-cua-robot-trung-quoc-post1539370.html
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