Evolving from machines to companions

Korean companies have little presence in the promising robot market.

LEE DO-SUNGThe author is a Beijing correspondent of JTBC. “The coffee tastes better for some reason. Hahaha.” People around him laughed as he received a cup of coffee from a humanoid made by Chinese robot manufacturer Qingbao at the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing’s Yizhuang District on August 22.

The fair featured 169 companies leading China’s robot industry. More than 600 types of robots attracted visitors’ attention, which was particularly focused on 27 types of humanoids. Qingbao also introduced a humanoid with artificial skin, smiling and greeting just like a human.

Tiangong, a robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, went around the exhibition hall and met with visitors. Children surrounded Tiangong and laughed. Standing 163 centimeters (5 feet, 4 inches) tall and weighing 43 kilograms (95 pounds), Tiangong can run at a maximum speed of 6 kilometers per hour (3.7 miles per hour), avoid obstacles and climb stairs.

Robot developer Unitree’s exhibition was also popular. It unveiled the humanoid G1, which performs advanced motions such as jumping and rotating with dozens of motored joints. It is sold not only for factories but also for homes. Humanoids now have the status of “companion” in our daily lives as well as “colleague” taking on dangerous and cumbersome tasks.

What stood out more than those cutting-edge robots were children. They ranged from babies who can barely walk to middle and high school students. A doctor who brought his 10-year-old son said, “My son is an aspiring robot scientist, and I hope he becomes a scientist who can help others by learning about the latest development.”

China’s robot industry is bearing fruit as companies sow seeds in land prepared by the government. In November 2023, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced in the “directive on humanoid innovation and development” that it will establish a mass production system by next year and use it as a national growth engine. The global AI robot market is expected to grow by more than 30 percent on average until 2030, reaching $184.8 billion that year.

Korean companies have little presence in the promising robot market. Other than Hyundai Motor Group’s acquisition of U.S. robotics company Boston Dynamics and Samsung Electronics’ investment in Rainbow Robotics, which was launched by researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 2020, there has been no notable move. Meanwhile, promising young scientists in China are dreaming of becoming robot engineers with hands-on experience with the latest robots. Their bright smiles have many implications for the future.