China Advances Humanoid Robot Research for Future Military ...
In June 2025, a university competition included a stage simulating an incursion behind enemy lines. The robots had to enter a designated area, map it, and identify targets.
Key takeaways
- The most recent developments show a rapid expansion of both civilian and military humanoid‑robot programs. In early September, Chinese electric‑vehicle maker XPeng announced that its IRON humanoid robot has moved from prototype to full‑scale manufacturing, walking off the production line on its own and slated to begin commercial shipments next year. The robot boasts 82 degrees of freedom, can move at roughly two metres per second and is being built in an automated line that is more than 80 % robot‑controlled.
- At the same time, Reuters reported that China’s People’s Liberation Army is actively converting advanced research into battlefield tools. After a high‑profile World Humanoid Robot Games in August, PLA officials called for faster transfer of “cutting‑edge technologies” into military training, and procurement documents from 2025‑2026 show tenders for embodied humanoid perception and dexterous‑operation systems as well as a $300,000 budget for data‑collection platforms to teach robots to navigate terrain and conduct tasks such as identity checks, discipline inspections and security patrols.
- American researchers have also pushed the performance envelope. A new AI framework called BeyondMimic, demonstrated by UC Berkeley and Stanford, enabled humanoid robots to sprint, spin‑kick and combine dozens of human‑like motions without task‑specific retraining, a breakthrough published in Science Robotics in September.
- Market analysts are projecting massive growth. Goldman Sachs now expects 6.5 million humanoid robots to be shipped globally by 2035, while companies such as Tesla, Teradyne and Intuitive Surgical are scaling production lines for service‑oriented robots.
- Elsewhere, Korea’s national AI project unveiled an upgraded KAIROS humanoid at the Global Forum on Mechanical Engineering, showing enhanced walking, hand‑shaking and culturally inspired dance motions. These parallel civilian, research and defense advances illustrate how quickly humanoid robots are moving from laboratory demos to mass production and potential deployment on the battlefield.
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In June 2025, a university competition included a stage simulating an incursion behind enemy lines. The robots had to enter a designated area, map it, and identify targets. Another scenario involved checking documents, enforcing discipline, and patrolling military bases.
The organizers viewed these trials as a training ground for preparing humanoids for their future deployment on the battlefield.
Military procurement notices from that period suggest that the effort involved more than general concepts. In May 2025, the People’s Liberation Army announced a tender to purchase a humanoid robot, install it, and provide technical training for personnel. Four months later, a procurement notice appeared for a system providing intelligent perception and agile control of a humanoid machine. 13 sep 2026, 18:46
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China Advances Humanoid Robot Research for Future Military Operations
Monday, 7 September 2026, 12:26
China Advances Humanoid Robot Research for Future Military Operations
China’s latest robotics experiments reveal how quickly entertainment technology could enter military planning, but serious obstacles still stand in the way. In December, China’s Eastern Theater Command released a video edited with the help of artificial intelligence. It purported to show humanoid and quadrupedal robots overcoming Taiwan’s defenses in a simulated future conflict.
The United States is also studying the military use of humanoids. Last year, the U.S. Army announced a competition to develop robotic systems capable of operating alongside service members. Potential tasks included reconnaissance, security, obstacle clearance, work in hazardous environments, and offensive and defensive operations in cities.
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