-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueIn Pursuit of Perfection: Defect Reduction
For bare PCB board fabrication, defect reduction is a critical aspect of a company's bottom line profitability. In this issue, we examine how imaging, etching, and plating processes can provide information and insight into reducing defects and increasing yields.
Voices of the Industry
We take the pulse of the PCB industry by sharing insights from leading fabricators and suppliers in this month's issue. We've gathered their thoughts on the new U.S. administration, spending, the war in Ukraine, and their most pressing needs. It’s an eye-opening and enlightening look behind the curtain.
The Essential Guide to Surface Finishes
We go back to basics this month with a recount of a little history, and look forward to addressing the many challenges that high density, high frequency, adhesion, SI, and corrosion concerns for harsh environments bring to the fore. We compare and contrast surface finishes by type and application, take a hard look at the many iterations of gold plating, and address palladium as a surface finish.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
Humanoid Robots to Become the Next US-China Battleground, with Price Differentiation and Tiered Applications as Emerging Trends
February 24, 2025 | TrendForceEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Government worldwide are ramping up investments in robotics R&D as labor shortages and rising costs persist. TrendForce reports that China, Japan, the US, South Korea, and Germany have consistently ranked among the top five countries for industrial robot installations and are expected to continue executing over US$13 billion in related projects by 2025. The US boasts a more advanced AI ecosystem, while China is focused on building a robust supply chain. This divergence is expected to drive greater product pricing variations and application diversity in the future.
TrendForce notes that the US government is primarily investing in smart robotics, autonomous systems, space robotics, and military robots. The humanoid robotics sector is led by companies such as Tesla and Boston Dynamics, with initial applications centered on manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.
Technologically, US firms excel in AI training, including the development of the first vision-language action (VLA) model for high-frequency upper-body control in humanoid robots, the integration of Google Gemini 2.0 to enhance spatial awareness, and collaborations with NVIDIA to improve locomotion stability through reinforcement learning.
Leading US semiconductor firms such as Qualcomm and NVIDIA offer end-to-end solutions with computing power exceeding 150 TOPS. Additionally, high-performance MCUs from Texas Instruments and Analog Devices further solidify the US’s comprehensive AI-driven robotics ecosystem.
China, on the other hand, has identified robotics as a strategic priority in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) and has issued various policy directives, including guidelines for innovation in humanoid robotics. The focus has been on developing a self-sufficient supply chain and key components.
Leading Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers include Unitree Robotics, Fourier, and UBTECH, while the “Movement Plane,” which accounts for approximately 55% of a robot’s total cost, has seen strong domestic investment. Chinese firms are actively developing coreless motors, 6D force-torque sensors, and harmonic drives, key components for humanoid robot mobility.
TrendForce points out that Tuopu Group, Sanhua Intelligent Controls, Hengli Hydraulic, Seenpin, and Zhaowei not only serve China’s domestic market but have also entered international supply chains or are undergoing testing with major global players. Furthermore, China is the world’s largest battery producer. As humanoid robots move toward mass production and require higher power efficiency, this advantage is expected to become increasingly critical.
A comparison of core technological specifications of humanoid robots from the US and China reveals that American companies focus on industrial applications, prioritizing payload capacity and battery life, while Chinese manufacturers emphasize versatility and greater degrees of freedom in full-body and hand movements. TrendForce highlights that, much like the current AI competition between high-capital and low-cost approaches, the humanoid robotics sector in the US and China reflects their respective strengths.
Over the next five years, commercial humanoid robots are expected to exhibit significant price gaps and tiered applications, with regional ecosystems fostering localized production and industrial development.
Suggested Items
Tesollo Selected for NVIDIA Inception Program
06/02/2025 | TesolloRobotics and solutions development company Tesollo Inc. announced that it has been officially selected as a member of NVIDIA’s Inception Program.
VDMA Forecast 2025: German Robotics and Automation Faces 10% Revenue Drop Investment Restraint Shapes the Outlook
06/02/2025 | VDMAThe robotics and automation industry in Germany is expected to generate total sales of €14.5 billion in 2025. This is a drop of ten percent compared to the previous year.
Self-Healing Materials Could Unlock the Potential of Tomorrow’s Technology, Reports IDTechEx
05/22/2025 | IDTechExA sci-fi movie trope is the virtually indestructible robot, capable of operating without rest due to extended battery life, able to interact with its surroundings like a human thanks to advanced soft robotic components, and fully autonomous due to an extensive suite of sensors.
Robust.AI Partners With Foxconn to Accelerate and Scale Manufacturing of Carter Warehouse Automation Robots
05/16/2025 | BUSINESS WIRERobust.AI, a leader in AI-driven warehouse automation, announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world’s largest electronics manufacturing services provider, to expand production of its flagship Carter™ multi-function collaborative robotics platform.
Industrial Robotics Market is Set to Surpass Valuation of $235.38 Billion by 2033
05/12/2025 | Globe NewswireThe global Industrial robotics market was valued at US$ 26.99 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 235.28 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 27.2% over the course of forecast period, 2025–2033.