On September 24, the 24th Industrial Expo opened in Shanghai. Compared to previous years, the number of mobile robot companies exhibiting has decreased, showing a slight lack of industry vitality. However, some companies still launched new products at the expo.
Four Mobile Robot Companies Launched New Products
SEER Robotics – Wheeled Humanoid Robot
SEER Robotics unveiled its latest controller, the SRC-5000, at the expo. The SRC-5000 supports the manufacturing of advanced composite robots and general mobile robots, as well as wheeled humanoid robots. SEER Robotics also showcased the development of its wheeled humanoid robot and its complete supporting tools on site.
Gen-song – Counterbalance Unmanned Forklift
Gen-song presented its latest counterbalance unmanned forklift. The new model is built on a specialized platform, supporting both indoor and outdoor use, and offers a full range of driving models. It can handle large dual-pallet loads and operate stably on up to 20% slopes. The entire machine is designed with IPX4-level waterproofing, significantly expanding its operational radius, and making it suitable for all-weather use, including rain and cold storage environments.
Jaten Robotics – UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle)
At the expo, Jaten Robotics launched its latest UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle). This unmanned vehicle integrates 3D panoramic obstacle avoidance technology and uses Jaten’s self-developed intelligent navigation system, covering a mapping range of 5 square kilometers with centimeter-level positioning accuracy. It can reach up to 30 kilometers per hour and focuses mainly on outdoor logistics scenarios.
KUKA Mobile Robot – 600kg Class AMR
In addition to showcasing new products released in 2024, KUKA presented its newly pre-released 600kg class stealth lifting autonomous mobile robot at the expo. It features laser SLAM and QR code fusion navigation, with a maximum lifting travel of 80mm, and meets CE, cTUVus, and FCC certifications. The robot supports wireless charging and is suitable for the automotive and general industrial sectors, primarily targeting sales in Europe and the United States.
Besides the aforementioned companies, others like Hikrobot, SIASUN, LGIM, Li-gong, and Beacon Robot also displayed relevant products and solutions. As the heat of mobile robots “fades”, do humanoid robots rise?
Analysis of This Year’s Industrial Expo
A notable change at this year’s expo is the significant reduction in mobile robot companies, from the core supply chain to the manufacturers themselves. According to incomplete statistics from New Strategy, there were only about 10 exhibitors of mobile robot bodies at this expo. On one hand, the overall economic downturn has led to a lack of demand growth for mobile robot products in downstream industries, putting companies under significant cash pressure. As a result, they have cut budgets for exhibitions, which require substantial human, material, and financial resources. On the other hand, many companies have focused their efforts on overseas markets this year, reallocating resources away from domestic promotions.
From the showcased products, this expo has traditionally been a stage for companies to release new products, but apart from a few companies, most exhibitors presented products and solutions launched previously, indicating a slight lack of overall innovation momentum in the industry.
From the new products launched by several companies, SEER Robotics’s new wheeled humanoid robot aims to showcase its integrated control capabilities. The latest SRC-5000 controller primarily targets high-end composite robots and general mobile robots.
For both Gen-song’s latest counterbalance unmanned forklift and Jaten’s unmanned ground vehicle, a noticeable trend is that mobile robot manufacturers are striving to extend their product applications from indoor to outdoor environments.
Additionally, many humanoid robot products were presented at this expo, especially with a dedicated humanoid robot exhibition area set up by the organizers, highlighting popular humanoid robot products in the market. Traditional industrial robot manufacturers also showcased related products, but few had dynamic demonstrations. A representative from a company that recently launched humanoid robots noted that currently, there aren’t many suitable application scenarios for them. Most exhibitors were simply demonstrating their development capabilities, lacking a clear direction for business expansion.
Overall, while the excitement around mobile robots has somewhat diminished at this year’s expo, companies are adopting more cautious and steady market strategies. However, as a mature technology, the application of mobile robots in various industry scenarios continues to deepen, with the market maintaining a certain growth rate. Humanoid robots have garnered significant attention this year, with manufacturers from different sectors introducing related products. Yet, there remains a long way to go for humanoid robots to transition from the lab to practical applications.
