Chinese company Dongfeng will use humanoid robots in their vehicle factories.
Chinese automaker Dongfeng has signed a strategic agreement with Ubtech Robotics, a developer of humanoid robots. The company will integrate Ubtech’s humanoid robots into its vehicle manufacturing processes.
A subsidiary of Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation has signed a strategic agreement with Ubtech Robotics, a developer of humanoid robots. As a result of the agreement, Dongfeng will integrate Ubtech’s humanoid robots into its vehicle manufacturing processes.
Using Ubtech Robotics’ Humanoid Robots
Dongfeng, which has been operating since the late 1960s, is the fourth largest state-owned automaker in China, following SAIC, Changan Auto, and FAW Group. The company’s subsidiary, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, produces crossovers and MPVs under the Fengxing brand, as well as minibuses and various vehicles for Lingzhi and Jingyi. Dongfeng announced its collaboration with Ubtech Robotics, a company specializing in robotics, to further automate its manufacturing processes.
One of Ubtech’s most advanced models is the Walker S humanoid robot, which is already used in the production of electric vehicles by Chinese automakers like NIO. The Walker S robots will be utilized in production processes such as seat belt inspection, door lock testing, body quality checks, oil filling, and label applications. It is noted that these humanoid robots will work alongside traditional automated production equipment to handle complex scenarios without human intervention.
Ubtech Walker S robots stand at 1.7 meters tall and are equipped with a “fusion control” algorithm that enables real-time communication and data sharing with factory systems. These robots, capable of perceiving their surroundings and interacting with objects and humans, operate through 41 high-performance servo joints.
As humanoid robots continue to advance, we see automakers gradually incorporating them into their production lines. Electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla also have a humanoid robot named Optimus, which they plan to use in their production processes, similar to Dongfeng. The increasingly autonomous production processes are beginning to phase out the human factor. While this shift is profitable for companies, it also raises potential social issues due to job displacement, highlighting a complex aspect of this technological advancement.
