2026 World Robot Conference Showcases Mass Production and Practical Transformation of Embodied AI

The 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC) opened on August 19 in Beijing Yizhuang, under the theme of 'Human-Robot Coexistence, Supply-Demand Integration,' attracting over 300 participating companies.

Unlike previous years when robots primarily demonstrated acrobatic flips and running, this year’s conference focused on whether robots can operate stably and continuously in factories, homes, and high-risk environments.

Data shows that China’s embodied AI (embodied intelligence) sector raised 93.5 billion RMB in the first half of 2026, accumulating to 121.7 billion RMB—surpassing 67% of last year’s total. Capital market evaluations are gradually shifting from showcasing complex movements to tangible metrics such as shipment volume, production line operating hours, and repurchase rates.

At this year’s event, Unitree Technology officially listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR Market), briefly surpassing a market capitalization of 400 billion RMB, making it a focal point of the exhibition. Industry executives from other embodied intelligence firms noted that Unitree’s IPO sends a positive signal for future fundraising, though concerns remain about potential stock price volatility.

Compared to past reliance on pre-programmed actions or remote control by backstage operators, this year’s exhibited products showed significant progress in 'autonomous operation.' For example, Zibianliang Technology’s Quantum series robots can independently handle tasks like tidying clutter and sorting waste without predefined scripts. Staff indicated that the model has already been validated in over 100 real households through collaboration projects.

Additionally, Galaxy Universal unveiled 'Galaxy Xingzai,' a robot capable of real-time motion imitation and interaction with real-world environments, demonstrating a leap from limb movement learning to cognitive decision-making.

The largest booth, 'StarSea Map,' elevated the competitive dimension to 'generalization, precision, and efficiency.' StarSea Map showcased its front-end warehouse system developed with JD.com, utilizing its G0.5 VLA model to enable long-range planning and generalization across over ten thousand product types. Gao Ji Yang, founder and CEO of StarSea Map, explained that achieving intelligence in the physical world requires full control over hardware embodiment to close the data loop, thereby driving collaborative updates among 'data, model, and body.'

Among numerous exhibitors, Zhishen Technology’s booth layout clearly reflected the industry’s transition toward practical application. The company divided its展区 into five zones: joint modules, motor control 'cerebellum,' navigation and decision-making 'cerebrum,' and deployed industrial solutions.

Its core product, 'Gang Beng L2,' can continuously carry 16 kg, withstand static loads up to 150 kg, and operates under IP66 protection in temperatures ranging from -20°C to 55°C. Using a sensor-control integrated model, it autonomously navigates unstructured terrains like perforated staircases without prior route planning. Meanwhile, 'Tong Chui M1' integrates the 'TA01' robotic arm, which, powered by a Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model, maintains stable manipulation even while the quadruped body is in motion.

Overall, this year’s conference signals that embodied intelligence is entering a true productivity assessment phase. Industry analysts suggest that future competition will no longer center on visually impressive demonstrations, but on whether robots can reliably complete tasks in real-world environments with high precision, efficiency, and generalization capabilities.