The competition between the US and China in humanoid robotics is emerging as a new technological battleground, with each country leveraging its strengths to dominate the future of robotics.
The US, with its advanced AI ecosystem, focuses on high-performance applications, while China prioritizes supply chain development and cost-effective manufacturing. This divergence is expected to result in significant price differentiation and a wide range of applications for humanoid robots in the coming years, TrendForce said in its report.
The US government is heavily investing in smart robotics, autonomous systems, space exploration robots, and military robotics. Companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics are leading the humanoid robotics sector, with initial applications in manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.
The US excels in AI training, with advancements such as the first vision-language action (VLA) model for precise upper-body control, the integration of Google Gemini 2.0 for enhanced spatial awareness, and reinforcement learning collaborations with NVIDIA to improve locomotion stability.
Semiconductor giants like Qualcomm and NVIDIA provide end-to-end solutions with computing power exceeding 150 TOPS, while Texas Instruments and Analog Devices contribute high-performance microcontrollers (MCUs), reinforcing the US’s strong AI-driven robotics ecosystem.
China, on the other hand, has made robotics a strategic priority in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), implementing policies to foster innovation in humanoid robotics and develop a self-sufficient supply chain.
Leading Chinese manufacturers such as Unitree Robotics, Fourier, and UBTECH are focusing on key components like coreless motors, 6D force-torque sensors, and harmonic drives, essential for humanoid robot mobility.
The “Movement Plane,” which constitutes about 55 percent of a robot’s total cost, has seen strong domestic investment, allowing China to gain a competitive edge in cost-effective production. Companies like Tuopu Group, Sanhua Intelligent Controls, Hengli Hydraulic, Seenpin, and Zhaowei have either entered international supply chains or are in testing phases with major global players.
China’s dominance in battery production is another crucial factor in the humanoid robotics race. As robots move toward mass production with higher energy demands, China’s battery production advantage is expected to play a vital role in making cost-efficient humanoid robots more accessible for commercial applications.
A direct comparison of humanoid robotics development between the two nations shows that American companies prioritize industrial applications, focusing on payload capacity and extended battery life. In contrast, Chinese firms emphasize versatility, developing robots with greater degrees of freedom in full-body and hand movements. This aligns with broader economic strategies — US firms emphasize capital-intensive, high-tech solutions, while China adopts a low-cost, mass-production approach similar to its AI competition with the US.
TrendForce reports that China, Japan, the US, South Korea, and Germany have consistently ranked among the top five countries for industrial robot installations and are expected to continue executing over $13 billion in related projects by 2025.
Over the next five years, the humanoid robotics market is expected to witness major price gaps and tiered applications. Regional ecosystems will likely shape localized production, leading to distinct industrial developments in both countries. The competition will not only influence technological advancements but also reshape global supply chains and market dynamics in humanoid robotics.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
