Chinese humanoid robots learn to carry trays, fold clothes

Chinese humanoid robots are moving from stage shows to real-world tasks, with firms training machines to carry trays, fold clothes, and fetch items in centers such as Jinan, according to Xinhua.

Unitree Robotics from Hangzhou showcased robot formations at the Spring Festival Gala and was visited by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

In a written reply to Xinhua, Unitree said the gala cleared many technical hurdles and that its coordination algorithm could be adapted for real-time scheduling in warehouses and its perception systems for safe use in homes.

Robot training centers are mushrooming across Anhui, Zhejiang, and Shandong, with some companies reporting early commercial orders for uses including smart warehousing, manufacturing, and home care, according to Xinhua.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said China had over 140 humanoid makers and 330 models by 2025. A 2025 Morgan Stanley report noted 7,705 humanoid patents over the past five years and said China held 54 percent of global industrial robot installations.

Industry executives told Xinhua that government-backed pilot bases and state-funded programmes are helping firms test robots in real settings.

🔗 Source: Xinhua

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

China’s lead is measured in thousands of robots, not just patents

Production has moved past pilots, with shipments already in the thousands.
In 2025, AgiBot shipped over 5,100 units and Unitree over 4,200, while Figure AI, Agility Robotics, and Tesla each shipped 150 to 500 units 1.
Costs widen that gap, with core humanoid-robot components in China estimated at 50% to 70% cheaper than foreign equivalents, and Unitree listing its G1 humanoid robot at $16,000 2 3.
Beijing frames this as “embodied AI,” aiming for AI-powered systems capable of autonomous operation in the physical world 4.

A manufacturing boom creates geopolitical risks and a potential bubble

Fast growth under state-backed policy can leave factories with more supply than demand.
China’s top economic planning agency warned that more than 150 manufacturers are making “highly repetitive products,” setting up a tough consolidation cycle 5.
To guide the sector, China released a national standard framework for humanoid robots and embodied AI 6.
Political pushback is rising, with the U.S. weighing the “Humanoid Robot Act of 2025” (S. 3275) to bar federal procurement of AI-integrated humanoid robots from certain countries, including China 2.