UBTech’s Walker S1 humanoid robot has entered a BYD electric-car factory in Changsha, Hunan Province, for task training. EyeShenzhen reported the move on October 15, 2024, based on an announcement by the Shenzhen-based robot maker. The robot is 1.72 metres tall, weighs 76 kilograms and can carry 15 kilograms while walking. UBTech says it has more than 500 pre-orders from carmakers for its Walker S series.
How the Walker S1 humanoid robot works at BYD
Walker S1 is designed to work with self-driving logistics vehicles, forklifts, mobile industrial robots and the factory’s management software. UBTech calls this pairing of humanoids and autonomous logistics vehicles a world first for industrial use, a claim from the company itself. In this setup, wheeled machines cover most of the distance and the humanoid handles short, awkward moves that need a human-like body, such as picking boxes from different heights.
UBTech’s industrial solutions page lists the tasks it targets: parcel handling, screw and bolt tightening, part assembly, moving process materials and visual inspection of components. The October 2024 report describes training at BYD and gives no productivity figures.
Why Chinese carmakers want humanoid robots
A manufacturing talent guide from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, cited in the EyeShenzhen report, foresees a shortfall of about 30 million skilled workers across 10 key manufacturing sectors by 2025. The South China Morning Post presents humanoid robots as one answer to that labour shortage, because they can use tools and workspaces built for people with fewer changes to existing lines.
UBTech has also announced work with Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, Geely, FAW Hongqi, FAW-Volkswagen and Audi FAW, as well as Foxconn and the logistics firm SF Express.
What Walker S1 can do
Update (January 2025): heise reported in January 2025 that Walker S1 has 41 degrees of freedom, 360-degree visual and sound sensing, and AI for general task planning that lets it carry out some tasks partly on its own. The same report says the robot was by then working alongside employees in assembly and quality control at BYD and Nio, and that UBTech planned to deliver 500 to 1,000 Walker S robots by the end of 2025.
Limits and open questions
Humanoid robots remain expensive and complex to maintain, with many moving parts, sensors and computers that must survive dust, oil, vibration and heat. Every factory line has its own timing, tools and safety rules, so integration takes engineering work. For many tasks, a conveyor, a wheeled mobile robot or a fixed industrial arm stays cheaper and more robust. UBTech has not published productivity figures or prices for Walker S1, and the order numbers come from the company.
Gromeus has followed other humanoid projects, such as a Gobi Desert race where Robot Era’s Star1 won with the help of sneakers and EngineAI’s SE01 prototype, which targets natural walking and factory work.
Sources and related information
EyeShenzhen – UBTECH’s new industrial robot used at BYD factory – 2024
The Shenzhen government news site reports that Walker S1 entered BYD’s Changsha factory for task training, with its size, payload and UBTech’s order figures.
South China Morning Post – Humanoid robot could recharge China’s manufacturing labour shortage – 2024
The newspaper details how UBTech received over 500 orders from automakers for Walker S1 and frames the robot as a response to labour gaps.
UBTech – Walker S series industrial humanoid solutions – 2024
The maker’s page lists the industrial tasks Walker S robots target, from parcel handling to quality inspection.
heise – Humanoid robots: UBTech prepares mass production of Walker S series – 2025
This later report describes UBTech’s plan to mass-produce Walker S robots in 2025 and the robot’s technical features.
Interesting Engineering – UBTech’s Walker S1 begins factory work at BYD – 2024
A news report that describes the BYD deployment and its link to China’s labour shortage.
