Who will win the race to develop a humanoid robot?

It is a bright spring morning in Hannover, Germany and is going to meet the robot.

I invited G1, a Humanoid robot produced by a Chinese company Unitree, from Hannover Messe, one of the world’s largest industrial exhibitions.

Standing at about 4’3 “(130cm), the G1 is smaller and cheaper than other humanoid robots in the market, and has a fluid movement and dexterity that may be in the virus.

Today, the G1 is remotely controlled by Pedro Zheng, a Unitree sales manager.

He explains that customers need to program each G1 for autonomous functions.

The passenger stops and tries to actively participate with the G1, which cannot be said to show many other machines in the cave conference room.

They suddenly move to see if they are suddenly reacting for handshake. When the G1 shakes or bends backwards, he apologizes when he bumps. There is something that will make people comfortable with human forms.

Unitree is just one of dozens of companies worldwide. We are developing a robot with human form.

The potential is enormous -for business, we promise to do not need a holiday or salary.

It may also be the ultimate domestic device. After all, a person who does not want a machine to wash and build a dishwasher.

But this technology is still out of some way. Robot cancer and mobile robots are common in factories and warehouses for decades, but the conditions of the rectum can be controlled and workers can keep them safely.

It is much more difficult to introduce humanoid robots in less predictable environments such as restaurants and homes.

Humanoid robots will have to be strong to be useful, but it makes it potentially dangerous. Simply passing at the wrong time can be dangerous.

Many work on artificial intelligence to control such machines is required.

Unitree spokesman told the BBC, “AI has not yet reached a breakthrough moment.”

“Today’s robot AI discovers basic logic and reasoning, such as understanding and completing complex tasks in a logical way.”

Currently, the G1 is sold by research institutes and technology companies that can develop Unitree’s open source software.

At present, entrepreneurs focus on their efforts on humanoid robots for warehouses and factories.

The highest profile is Elon Musk. His auto company, Tesla, is developing a humanoid robot called Optimus. In January, he expects to be built this year, and he will be “useful” at the Tesla factory.

Other automakers are also following a similar way. BMW recently introduced a humanoid robot into the US plant. Meanwhile, Hyundai, a Korean auto company, ordered tens of thousands of robots at Boston Dynamics, a robot company purchased in 2021.

Thomas Andersson, the founder of the research firm STIQ, tracks 49 companies that develop 49 companies. The definition of the robot with both pulses, but if you push yourself to the wheels, you look at more than 100 companies.

Anderson believes that Chinese companies are likely to dominate the market.

“The entire ecosystem of supply chain and robotics is huge in China, and it is really easy to repeat development and to carry out R & D (research and development).”

Unitree emphasizes that advantage. The G1 is inexpensive of $ 16,000 (£ 12,500) (for robots).

Andersson also pointed out that investment prefers Asian countries.

In a recent report, STIQ pointed out that almost 60%of all funds for humanized robots were raised in Asia and the United States is attracting most of the rest.

Chinese companies receive additional benefits of national and local governments.

For example, Shanghai has a national support training facility for robots, where dozens of humanoid robots are learning how to complete the work.

How can we compete with us and European robot manufacturers?

Headquartered in Bristol, Bren Pierce established three robot companies and the latest KINISI just launched the KR1 robot.

The robot is designed and developed in the UK but will be manufactured in Asia.

“The problem as a European or an American company must first buy all these sub -companions in China.

“Then, when you buy a motor, buy batteries, buy batteries, buy resistance, and change it in the middle of the world, you can collect all the sauces in Asia.”

Pierce is not only creating a robot in Asia, but also reduces costs because it does not have a full humanoid form.

There are no legs in the KR1 designed for warehouses and factories.

“All these places have a flat floor. Why do you want an additional cost of a very complex form factor when you can put it on the mobile base?” He asks.

If possible, his KR1 is made of mass production components. The wheels are the same as what you can see in the electric scooter.

“My philosophy is to buy as many things on the shelves. So all of our motors, batteries, computers, cameras, they are all commercially available and mass -produced,” he says.

Pierce, like Unitree’s competitors, says that a true “secret source” is a software that robots can work with humans.

“Many companies have been very advanced robots, but they need a Ph.D. in robotics for actually installation and use.

“What we want to design is to use a robot that can actually learn how to use an average warehouse or factory worker in a few hours,” Pierce said.

He says KR1 can do his work after humans guide 20-30 times.

KR1 will be provided to pilot customers for this year’s test.

Will the robot go home from the factory? Even optimistic Pierce says it’s a long way.

Pierce said, “The last 20 years of long -term dreams have built all robots, which I have received a Ph.D., I think this is the final goal, but I think it’s a very complicated task.

“I still think they’ll be there, but I think it took at least 10 to 15 years.”