Previously, we introduced the application prospects of mechanical dogs in future warfare, and the mechanical dogs tested by Chinese companies already have the shooting accuracy of skilled machine gunners, which represents the great potential of mechanical dogs to replace human soldiers in close-range combat missions under certain conditions. However, compared with the four-legged mechanical dog, a video of a bipedal robot in the field adaptability training recently displayed by a Shenzhen company has stimulated the attention of netizens. Obviously, humanoid robots have better terrain adaptability than quadruped robot dogs, and once they have similar mobility to humans, their potential military applications are more promising.
So is it possible for China to use robot dogs and robots to accelerate the PLA's shift to unmanned combat strategy? This depends on two limiting factors: First, whether it can establish a huge supporting industrial chain of humanoid robots and robot dogs, so that the production costs of these two platforms can be further reduced; second, whether the technical maturity and intelligence level of robot dogs and humanoid robots can perform more complex tasks. In terms of the industrial chain of mechanical dogs, China has now come to the first place in the world, and even the United States, which first invented the Boston mechanical dog, has to introduce mechanical dogs from Chinese companies and test them in the U.S. military. However, in the field of humanoid robot industry chain, China does not dare to say that it is the world's leader.
According to the South China Morning Post, China will push for technological innovation and self-reliance in humanoid robots due to technological barriers set up by the West. The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, which has only been established for a few months, said that China will soon release a universal humanoid robot platform, which is considered an important symbol of China's high-end manufacturing. Relevant Chinese people said that it is the dream of every humanoid robot company to bring humanoid robots into thousands of households. The Chinese Humanoid Robot Innovation Center gathers leading experts and R&D personnel from the robotics industry to create a "common technology platform, public service platform and regulatory standard" for the humanoid robot industry. As the world's largest manufacturing country, China's direct goal in developing humanoid robots is to enter the field of industrial manufacturing and replace manual labor to complete a large number of tasks. Especially in the fields of computer, communication, and consumer electronics manufacturing, the extensive use of humanoid robots can further improve the level of industrial manufacturing. As China's society enters the trend of aging and declining birthrate, the establishment of a humanoid robot development industry is also conducive to China's solution to the problem of labor shortage in the future. The development of humanoid robots needs to promote the integration of artificial intelligence, high-end manufacturing and new material technology at the same time, of course, it belongs to the new quality productivity mentioned by China's high-level leaders, which will inevitably further drive the rapid development of China's economy.
So, can China's humanoid robot industry develop smoothly? In fact, it mainly depends on demand and China's ability to innovate. China is the second-largest holder of humanoid robot patents with 1,699, second only to Japan. At present, the core components of China's hotline robots are still facing the problem of domestic supply chain shortages. That is, foreign manufacturers still dominate the global market for humanoid robots. Of course, the foreign humanoid robot industry chain is not very strong, and their lead is mainly based on first-mover advantage. To this end, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has put forward the goal of innovative technological breakthroughs and safe supply of core components, indicating that China will promote the large-scale production and application of humanoid robots at the government level. From the perspective of driving economic development, China sees humanoid robots as disruptive innovative technologies, on the same order of magnitude as computers, smartphones and new energy vehicles, and plans to have a strong robotics industry by 2027 and become an important engine of China's economic growth.
Returning to the topic of what we are talking about the prospects of military applications of humanoid robots, as long as the development of China's general humanoid robots has made great progress, with a higher level of intelligence and lower manufacturing costs, it is logical to modify humanoid robot soldiers with certain combat capabilities on such platforms. The biggest obstacle to China's future reunification is the risk of human losses in street battles on the island of Taiwan, and unmanned combat forces, including mechanical dogs and humanoid robots, are the better means to crack it. It can be seen that the development of China's humanoid robot industry is not only a good thing for the benefit of the country and the people, but also an important driving force for us to complete the great cause of reunification.