Humanoids dance and thread needles as Japanese robotics developers look to outdo Chinese - Greenwich Time
Subscribe News # Humanoids dance and thread needles as Japanese robotics developers look to outdo Chinese By YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Mechanical hands dexterous enough to thread a needle, childlike dancing robots and adult-sized ones to...
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The most recent developments in humanoid robotics show a rapid move from laboratory prototypes toward scalable production and commercial deployment. In late May 2026 Figure announced that its BotQ factory has accelerated output of the Figure 03 model from one unit per day to one per hour, pushing cumulative production past 350 units and achieving first‑pass yields above 80 percent while integrating a new “System 0” whole‑body controller that fuses visual and proprioceptive data for autonomous stair climbing and uneven‑terrain navigation. At the same time, EngineAI unveiled its Shenzhen Intelligent Manufacturing Base and began mass delivery of the T800 full‑size humanoid, targeting a 10,000‑unit delivery capability and positioning the robot for high‑dynamic, heavy‑duty tasks. The Humanoids Summit in Tokyo highlighted both Japanese and Chinese progress: Japanese firms demonstrated dexterous hands that can thread needles and childlike dancing bots, while Chinese newcomers such as Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics showcased refined, lower‑cost versions of similar technology, underscoring a shift in market leadership. Automotive leaders are also positioning humanoids for factory use; BMW’s chief executive cited humanoid robots as the next wave of car‑production automation, noting trials with Toyota’s Digit and Hyundai’s plans to employ Boston Dynamics’ Atlas alongside Spot inspection units. Collectively, these announcements indicate that humanoid robots are transitioning from experimental platforms to fleet‑managed, mass‑produced systems ready for industrial, logistics, and consumer applications.
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Humanoids dance and thread needles as Japanese robotics developers look to outdo Chinese
By YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) — Mechanical hands dexterous enough to thread a needle, childlike dancing robots and adult-sized ones to help with deliveries were on display Thursday as the Humanoids Summit Tokyo opened.
Among the dozens of companies taking part, including well-known players like Boston Dynamics and Toyota Motor Corp., the big stars now were clearly the Chinese.
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Chinese newcomers, like Booster Robotics and LimX Dynamics, took the technology initially developed in Japan and the U.S. and fine-tuned it, often for cheaper mass production. It’s a repeat of what happened in other Japanese industries, from consumer electronics to cellphones and electric vehicles. In humanoids, Japan was initially ahead but then failed to produce major commercial solutions.
Tim Hornyuk, author of “Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots,” who was at the event, categorized it as the so-called “Galapagos syndrome,” referring to how innovative Japanese products evolve in isolation and end up not translating for the international market.
More News The inner robotics workings were all courtesy of Unitree, a Chinese outfit, which is also working on a four-legged dog-like “stellar explorer.”
Experts say Japan, with its finesse in manufacturing, proved a good breeding ground for robotics development. The sociological backdrop of a public receptive to robotics also helped.
A recent Pew global survey showed that people in Japan are highly aware of AI but are less anxious about it, at about 28%, than people in the U.S. at 50%.
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Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., a leader in robotics with its walking humanoid Asimo, first shown in 2000, was demonstrating a motorized four-fingered robotic hand that could screw on and off tiny bolts, or thread a needle.
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