China built robots that can do backflips

thumbnail While the humanoid robotics industry has a long way to go, the potential market opportunity has led to Tesla CEO Elon Musk doubling down on robotics, converting EV production lines at the company's Fremont factory to make Optimus humanoid robots. Production is expected to start later this year.

Some researchers argue Unitree isn't just a humanoid bet. Humanoids are Unitree's largest business, but quadruped robots still account for a sizable share. Purpose-built robots can be cheaper and more reliable in repetitive industrial settings, while humanoids are best-suited for unpredictable and less structured environments, they say.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news. "For these humanoid robots, to be honest, they're fascinating. They can dance and all that – but never seen them doing any real housework," said Hao Hong, managing partner of Lotus Asset Management.

In its prospectus, Unitree said that progress for large-scale commercial adoption may be slower than expected, as robotic hands are still not precise or durable enough for sustainable use.

Are Unitree's humanoid robots worth the hype, or do investors just want in on the sector?

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Current humanoid robots 'tend to be a large-sized toy': Hao Hong

The China Connection

Hong noted that retail investors are piling in partly because there are so few humanoid robotics companies to invest in.