At this year’s World Robot Conference in Beijing, China’s central state-owned enterprises showcased their latest robots designed for complex industrial environments, including deep-sea operations, manufacturing plants, and culinary applications. Unlike previous years when the focus was on robots performing flips and dance routines, this event highlighted practical, real-world uses.
During the five-day event, 48 central enterprise operators displayed a total of 263 robots. Additionally, over 100 organizations—including government-owned corporations, universities, research centers, private firms, and industry associations—partnered to form an innovation alliance dedicated to robotics. They unveiled the top ten technological breakthroughs in enterprise robotics and highlighted ten high-impact application scenarios.
In deep-sea operations, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation introduced the Zhihai Turing platform, which allows luxury yachts to navigate autonomously while avoiding obstacles. Its underwater robots can perform tasks such as seabed mapping and sediment removal simultaneously.
The State Power Investment Corporation showcased an offshore wind farm maintenance robot capable of underwater inspections and repairs of turbine towers and foundations. With amphibious features, it can inspect, clean, test, and fix equipment, reducing the need for divers.
In the manufacturing sector, CRRC’s logistics and welding robots worked together to cut production cycle times by approximately 40%, achieving a welding pass rate of 99.5%. Meanwhile, China Minmetals developed an automated grinding workstation for counterweights, significantly improving precision by 50% through complete automation.
In household applications, China National Coal Group demonstrated a multi-cuisine cooking robot that can mimic professional chefs’ techniques, such as stir-frying, ingredient dispensing, and temperature control. The robot also features oil fume purification and self-cleaning functions.
For security purposes, SDIC Intelligence Information Technology presented an outdoor patrol robot equipped with a four-wheel chassis. It can detect intrusions, high temperatures, open flames, missing manhole covers, and other potential threats.
With their extensive real-world applications and vast data resources, central state-owned enterprises are driving significant technological innovation in robotics, according to industry analyst Wu Gangliang. These companies have progressed from isolated breakthroughs to a more systematic approach to advancements in the field.
However, challenges remain. Core algorithms and crucial hardware-software integration technologies still lag behind, and strengths are mainly found in application scenarios and system integration,Wu noted.
Moving forward, these enterprises should focus on defining their leadership roles within supply chains, establishing clear industry boundaries, and leveraging their strengths in application scenarios and testing platforms to support broader industry growth. They should avoid attempting to dominate entire value chains. Wu emphasized that scenario-based applications and data sharing need to be embedded into performance evaluations, with standardized and secure data exchange mechanisms established.
It is also beneficial to promote partnerships between state-owned and private firms through market-driven approaches, including equity collaborations, strategic alliances, and resource sharing. A balanced framework involving large, medium, and small companies can foster coordinated growth, innovation, and risk management, Wu added.