Robotics needs to meet customers' practical demands

Editor's note: Though 2026 is being hailed as the year of mass production and commercialization of humanoid robots, questions remain about their adaptation to household scenarios and large-scale adoption. National Business Daily spoke to Wang Tianmiao, honorary director of the Robotics Institute at Beihang University, on the future of robots. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

China's robotics companies should focus on certain key areas. Businesses need to explore genuine market demands deeply and use closed-loop systems to achieve sustainable industrial growth. Technological advancements should align with real-world applications, addressing the practical needs of various sectors.

Also, they should focus on acquiring and mastering critical core technologies. The evolution of the robotics industry stems from foundational advancements in areas such as large-scale models, data, chips, new materials and innovative actuator structures. These components are the bedrock of competition in robotics and embodied intelligence, which makes them indispensable for the next wave of innovation.

At the same time, businesses must deeply involve customers in both research and development processes and iterative improvements, and even establish investment partnerships. Customers can contribute not only by placing orders but also by offering scenario-specific data and investing in these technologies.

Robotics companies must prioritize intellectual property protection, establish independent brands, build user trust and manage localized supply chain operations effectively.

The timeline for humanoid robots to achieve widespread household adoption is likely to extend over a decade. The challenge lies in two key areas: environmental adaptation and skills transfer. While data and model training make environmental adaptation relatively achievable, skills transfer remains a significant hurdle.

Household tasks, such as washing dishes, organizing toys and taking care of elderly individuals, require a fine balance of operational safety, cost efficiency, maintenance and constraints of home spaces.

In terms of deployment, commercial applications are likely to take the lead. They enable clear calculations for labor substitution and return on investment, with a higher tolerance for errors. Even when malfunctions occur, commercial uses generally do not pose risks to personal safety or disrupt entire production lines.

Similarly, in industrial settings, robots are unlikely to immediately dominate entire assembly lines. Adoption will probably start with simpler tasks, dedicated workstations or basic on-site logistics. Assembly lines demand standardization and stable repetitive operations, where the failure of a single robot can compromise overall efficiency and product quality. Given the constraints of costs, safety, maintenance needs and skill generalization, integrating humanoid robots in homes remains a distant goal.

Advances in large artificial intelligence models have reduced the barriers for traditional robots to expand internationally. With the support of large models, product adaptation cycles have been significantly reduced and the cost of providing overseas services has been lowered, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of traditional industrial robots.

In unstructured environments characterized by danger, heavy workloads, high repetition rates and small-scale customization, AI models can achieve environmental-level adaptation and generalization. This shift could lead to broader implementation across various application scenarios.

The benefits of AI development will unfold in multiple phases. Initially, advancements will focus on commercial, industrial and specialized hazardous applications. As conditions mature, household applications will drive the next wave of growth.