Industrial chain and competitive landscape

The humanoid robot is composed of three modules, and the algorithm is the core technical barrier to industrialization

The operation of the humanoid robot is composed of three modules: perception, control, and execution. The control module is equivalent to the human brain, which analyzes and makes decisions based on perceptual information and human-computer interaction information, and performs task requirements. The main task of the perception module is to obtain external information and process and fuse it. The execution module is equivalent to the torso and nerves of the human body, reflecting the final execution result of the robot.

Unlike industrial robots, which pay more attention to the execution and perception modules, the intelligent deepening of the control module is the key to the commercialization of humanoid robots, and the algorithm framework and AI software and hardware reserves are the real core of the functions of general humanoid robots, and they are also the basis for rapid iterative progress in the future.

Hardware dismantling of the humanoid robot industry chain

According to Tesla AI day data, a humanoid robot usually includes a linear system, a rotation system, a dexterous hand, a perception system and a shell, a lithium battery, etc., mainly including precision reducer (harmonic reducer, RV reducer, planetary reducer), servo motor ( frameless torque motors, coreless motors), lead screws, sensors (vision sensors, force sensors, IMUs), etc.

Overseas participants of humanoid robots

Ichiro Kato Laboratory of Waseda University in Japan developed the first bipedal humanoid robot in 1969, and in 1972, developed the world's first full-size humanoid "intelligent" robot WABOT-1, realizing the robot dream that human beings dreamed of.

For example, Honda ASIMO is the "originator" of humanoid robots driven by pure electric motors, and Boston Dynamics Atlas is the "integrator" of hydraulic drives, all of which show the innovation ability of overseas manufacturers.

Domestic participants in humanoid robots

In recent years, technology companies, Internet companies, car companies and other players have accelerated their influx into the humanoid robot track. In 2023, many domestic robot companies have launched related products, for example, in July, at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, China Fourier Intelligence released the latest research and development of the general humanoid robot GR-1, which is regarded by the industry as a milestone in the era of general robots.

Then, at the Beijing Robot Conference in August, quadruped robot companies Yushu Technology and Yunshen Technology, as well as Zhiyuan Robot Company, successively launched humanoid robots, marking that the humanoid robot industry has entered a new stage of blooming.

Investment and financing of the humanoid robot industry

According to incomplete statistics from the New Strategic Industries Research Institute, from January to June 2024, a total of 25 financing events in the field of humanoid robots occurred around the world, with a total financing of more than US$1 billion (about 7.8 billion yuan), and the financing amount has exceeded that of the whole of 2023 (27 cases, over US$715 million).

From January to June 2024, Chinese humanoid robot enterprises received a total of 16 financings, with a financing amount of more than 2 billion yuan, which is basically the same as the whole year of 2023.

From the perspective of financing rounds, the financing in the field of humanoid robots in 2024 will mainly focus on angel rounds and seeds, and start-ups are the main force of financing.

Summary of investment in the humanoid robot industry

As one of the core carriers of the next generation of technological change, the humanoid robot is not necessarily "humanoid", the core is generalized and intelligent, and it is expected to take the lead in the application iteration of ToB fields such as automobile manufacturing, and finally open the ToC terminal sky market and innovate human lifestyle.

At present, humanoid robots are in the critical stage of 0-1 breakthrough, and they need to achieve breakthroughs in the three dimensions of "brain, cerebellum and subject". The emergence of AI training models has greatly accelerated this process, and at the same time, it has greatly reduced costs and made it possible to commercialize.

Tesla expects that the cost of humanoid robots can be compressed to less than 20,000 US dollars, and Zhiyuan robots are expected to be able to control the cost within 200,000 yuan. According to the experience of the automotive industry, after achieving a 0-1 breakthrough, the 1-N stage will exponentially grow.

Humanoid robots have been defined as a new generation of disruptive products after computers, smart phones, and new energy vehicles. Referring to China's advantageous industries such as smart phones and new energy vehicles, China has outstanding advantages in the links that have an industrial foundation such as humanoid robot hardware parts and main manufacturing, can give full play to scale effects, and are in the promotion period of 1-N technology, and are expected to run out of the world's leading leading companies. It is at a disadvantage in terms of software such as humanoid robot general AI models, and needs inspiration + computing power support, waiting for a 0-1 technological breakthrough.