From "Understanding the World" to "Changing the World"

Insights into New Changes in the Robotics Industry from the 2026 World Robot Conference

At present, global artificial intelligence innovation is more active than ever. As an important vehicle for AI to move from the digital world to the physical world, intelligent robots are empowering every industry and entering thousands of households at an unprecedented pace.

From August 19 to 23, Beijing E-Town was abuzz with "robot opportunities." After more than a decade of accumulation, the 2026 World Robot Conference (hereinafter referred to as "the Conference"), hosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organization, has become a key window for observing global trends in robotics technology and China's innovation capacity. This year's Conference not only showcased a large number of cutting-edge technologies and innovative products, but also presented a development trend of deep integration between technological innovation and industrial application.

Application-Driven: Robotics Technology Moves Out of the Lab

At the Conference, one striking impression was that "application" had been pushed to the forefront. In the "Application-Driven" session of the main forum, speakers discussed how to use application as a driver to bridge the "last mile" of technology deployment, enabling robots to leave the laboratory and empower all industries. The Conference also launched the "Global Robot Application Exploration Plan" to accelerate the industry's transition from technical verification to large-scale scenario-based implementation.

Turning to the World Robot Exhibition held concurrently with the Conference, four exhibition areas—including the Smart Innovation Pavilion and Smart Collaboration Pavilion—were arranged from north to south. The newly completed Smart Innovation Pavilion, covering 20,000 square meters, housed companies such as Unitree, UBTECH, and Galaxy General, showcasing a rich array of application solutions around "Robot + Application Scenarios." For the first time, 49 central state-owned enterprises formed a collective pavilion and released ten high-value application scenarios. Meanwhile, members of the public flocked to ask: when will intelligent robots truly become available for home use?

The 2026 Humanoid Robot Industry Development Report (hereinafter referred to as "the Report"), compiled by the China Humanoid Robot and Embodied Intelligence Hundred-Person Committee, provides evidence for these intuitive observations. Zhang Feng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, noted when releasing the Report that humanoid robots are currently evolving from performing on stages and competing in arenas to being used in homes and working in factories. Humanoid robots are accelerating from small-batch trial use to normalized deployment and large-scale application. In the first half of this year, China's humanoid robot shipments exceeded 40,000 units, with the global share further rising to 97%.

However, behind this encouraging trend, there is still considerable room for improvement. Wang Xingxing, founder and chairman of Unitree, said at the main forum that the biggest bottlenecks for robots transitioning from exhibits to products are still efficiency, generalization ability, and precise alignment between models and the real world—especially errors in the last few centimeters or millimeters, which can significantly reduce success rates.

In addition to the thinking "brain" and massive data, the dexterous hand is one of the key components that help robots complete diverse tasks and improve success rates. In recent years, Lingxin Hands (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. has become an industry leader with its embodied intelligence software and hardware system built on "dexterous hands + cloud brain." At the Conference, its fully automatic robotic arm production line and application achievements, developed with independent intellectual property rights, attracted visitors and business discussions.

"In promoting the commercial application of robots, intellectual property plays a key role. First, it acts as a technology 'moat'—the core of competition in robotics lies in underlying hardware, control algorithms, dexterous manipulation, and other core technologies. A solid patent portfolio can protect the innovation results of core products and prevent technology copying and infringement. Second, it serves as a cornerstone of trust in industrial cooperation—when companies engage in supply chain cooperation or system integration, IP is an important credential of technical strength, enhancing partner trust and reducing technical risks in business cooperation. Third, it promotes the standardized development of the industrial ecosystem—robotics is still in an early commercial stage. Through patent layout, companies can not only empower industry chain enterprises through patent sharing and licensing but also foster a healthy atmosphere of innovative competition, accelerating the transition from laboratory to large-scale commercial deployment," said Shang Yunyun, IP manager of Lingxin Hands, highlighting the company's key approach to commercial application.

Consumer Market Warms Up: Robot Products Enter the Public Eye

According to statistics, in the first seven months of this year, China's robot exports continued to grow strongly, with industrial robot exports reaching 7.34 billion yuan, up 13.2% year-on-year, signaling a rising wave of robot consumption.

The Conference set up four themed days for the first time, with "Procurement Day" appearing as a standalone session. This innovative measure built a bridge between supply and demand. Among the many business negotiations, one signal was clear: products with independent intellectual property rights were more popular and easier to trade.

"In the early stages of robotics development, the focus was often on R&D, but once entering the stage of widespread application, the shift turns to commercialization. IP is a sharp tool for innovative entities to compete in the market—it not only prevents others from copying but also serves as a bargaining chip, giving them an advantage when competing with peers," said Lei Heping, Secretary-General of the China Intellectual Property Information Alliance, in an interview.

As robotics moves from "showcase" to "marketplace" and from "exhibits" to "commodities," how should IP governance keep pace? "When robots shift from tools to companions, privacy, IP, decision-making authority, and control rights all experience structural conflicts. We cannot rely on a single law or policy. Instead, we should establish layered rules based on scenarios such as companionship, healthcare, home, and enterprise, and form a governance system combining technology, legislation, policy, standards, social co-governance, and corporate self-discipline," said Zhang Ping, professor at Peking University Law School and director of the AI Safety and Governance Center at Peking University's Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

Chen Bing, professor and vice dean of the Law School at Nankai University and special researcher at the China Institute for New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies, noted that Chinese robot companies going global are no longer focused solely on sales growth but need to provide integrated "hardware + software + algorithms + services" solutions to help users improve overall operational efficiency. Consequently, data compliance and algorithm security, IP risks, and the complexity of certification standards in different countries have become "invisible thresholds" for robot exports. "For example, robotics technology is highly integrated, and its communication modules, navigation technologies, and others may involve standard-essential patents. Although patent holders commit to licensing on FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms, the specific royalty rates can easily lead to disputes. Additionally, if companies are infringed upon overseas, the lack of early IP layout in target markets may result in rights vacuums, leaving them without local legal protection," Chen Bing further analyzed.

Beyond the expansion of industrial orders for production, robot consumption is also drawing closer to people's daily lives. The Conference launched its first "Robot Consumer Street," where robot chefs cooked on-site, robot bands performed, and licensed cultural and creative stores opened. Behind this, the IP competition arena is also shifting—from a single contest over technical patents to a multi-dimensional competition involving "technology + design + brand + content."

"In robot consumption, IP is the 'trump card.' Only by making early and comprehensive IP arrangements can companies stay steady in the new wave of consumer competition," advised Wang Ruipeng, a lawyer at Beijing Guantao (Shanghai) Law Firm. He suggested that relevant companies should improve their IP portfolios from multiple angles. First, the overall design and component appearance of consumer-grade robots are key differentiators; it is essential to file design patents to prevent counterfeit imitations. Second, product naming and brand building should be completed as early as possible before product launch. In addition, for operating interfaces, corporate imagery, and other works involved in the product, copyright registration should be promptly handled to fix evidence of ownership and facilitate licensing and enforcement.

Industry representatives at the Conference estimated that it may ideally take 2 to 3 years, or even 5 to 10 years, for robots to complete over 80% of tasks in unfamiliar scenarios. When will general-purpose robots truly enter our lives and homes? The Conference gathered more than 300 companies, exhibited over 3,000 products, attracted dozens of international institutions, and organized in-depth discussions among more than 1,000 domestic and foreign guests—all of which will accelerate this process and bring us closer to the "ChatGPT moment" for embodied intelligence.