Historic Deployment Marks China’s Largest Real World Rollout of Humanoid Systems in Government Operations
In what represents one of China’s most ambitious deployments of humanoid robotics in public service, UBTech Robotics has secured a 264 million yuan (US$37 million) contract to deploy industrial grade humanoid robots across border crossings between China and Vietnam. The agreement, signed with a humanoid robot center in Fangchenggang, Guangxi province, will see the company’s Walker S2 robots begin operations in December 2025, performing tasks ranging from traveler guidance to border patrol and logistics operations.
The deployment marks a watershed moment in the commercialization of humanoid robotics, transitioning these advanced machines from controlled factory environments into complex public-facing operations requiring interaction with international travelers, unpredictable scenarios, and continuous 24/7 operation. The Walker S2’s pioneering autonomous battery-swapping capability, the first of its kind in humanoid robotics, proves critical for this application, enabling the robots to maintain round the clock vigilance at busy border checkpoints without human intervention for power management.
The Walker S2: Revolutionary Battery Swapping Humanoid Robot
The centerpiece of this historic deployment is UBTech’s Walker S2, launched in July 2025 and billed as the world’s first humanoid robot capable of autonomously replacing its own battery. Standing approximately 1.76 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall with 52 degrees of freedom, the Walker S2 represents industrial-grade engineering designed specifically for high-uptime applications where downtime costs money and compromises operations.
Autonomous Battery Swapping: The Game-Changing Feature
The robot’s most revolutionary capability is its autonomous hot-swappable dual-battery system. When power levels drop, the Walker S2 navigates independently to a dedicated charging station, uses its dexterous hands to remove the depleted battery pack, places it in the charging slot, retrieves a fully charged unit, and installs it, all within approximately three minutes. A backup battery ensures the robot never powers down during this process, enabling true 24/7 continuous operation.
This plug-and-play autonomous battery swap technology eliminates one of humanoid robotics’ most significant operational limitations. Traditional robots require hours of downtime for charging or constant human intervention to swap batteries. The Walker S2’s dual-battery system can seamlessly switch to backup power in case of primary battery failure, ensuring execution of critical tasks without interruption.
Each 48-volt lithium-ion battery provides approximately two hours of operation during active walking or up to four hours when the robot performs stationary tasks. The battery swap stations monitor each pack’s health in real time, alerting technicians if degradation occurs, further optimizing the robot’s longevity and reliability.
UBTech’s system mirrors advanced electric vehicle technology pioneered by Chinese automakers like NIO and Geely, but its application to bipedal humanoid robotics unlocks unprecedented operational efficiency in applications requiring constant presence and vigilance, precisely the requirements of border security operations.
Industrial-Grade Capabilities for Demanding Environments
Beyond battery innovation, the Walker S2 features fourth generation dexterous hands with 11 degrees of freedom each, enabling sub-millimeter precision for tasks ranging from document handling to assembly operations. The robot can lift up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds) per arm across a workspace extending from ground level to 1.8 meters, providing human-scale manipulation capabilities.
High-torque joints in the waist enable deep squatting and stooping, movements essential for inspecting low objects, picking items from ground level, or navigating varied terrain. The robot’s 52-degree-of-freedom articulation supports natural, human like movement that puts travelers at ease while maintaining industrial durability to withstand continuous operation in challenging conditions.
For perception and autonomous decision-making, the Walker S2 integrates UBTech’s BrainNet 2.0 and Co-Agent AI frameworks, combining multimodal reasoning, task planning, and autonomous exception handling. A pure RGB binocular stereo vision system provides human-like depth perception, enabling the robot to navigate dense, dynamic environments while identifying individuals, objects, and potential security concerns.
Advanced dynamic balancing algorithms maintain stability during bipedal locomotion even when carrying heavy loads or moving at speeds up to 7.2 km/h (2 meters per second). This combination of stability, strength, and sophisticated AI makes the Walker S2 uniquely suited for border applications requiring both physical capability and intelligent decision making.
Border Deployment: Tasks and Responsibilities
The pilot initiative represents one of China’s largest real world rollouts of humanoid systems in government operations. Walker S2 robots will handle multiple critical functions at China-Vietnam border crossings:
Traveler Guidance and Information: Robots will assist international travelers with directions, answer questions about crossing procedures, and provide multilingual support. Previous deployments at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport demonstrated humanoid robots effectively answering passenger queries, validating this application.
Personnel Flow Management: Managing crowd movement at busy border checkpoints requires constant vigilance and tactical positioning to prevent bottlenecks. Humanoid robots can monitor queue lengths, direct travelers to appropriate lanes, and coordinate with border control staff to optimize throughput.
Border Patrol Duties: Regular patrols of border areas help detect unauthorized crossings, identify security concerns, and maintain visible presence as deterrent. The Walker S2’s autonomous navigation, continuous operation capability, and sensor suite make it ideal for patrol functions that would otherwise require multiple human shifts.
Logistics Operations: Handling documents, transporting materials between checkpoint stations, and managing supplies represent time-consuming tasks that divert human personnel from security-focused responsibilities. Humanoid robots can handle these logistics functions while human officers focus on critical decision-making.
Inspection Services: Beyond border crossings themselves, the deployment includes inspection duties at manufacturing sites for steel, copper, and aluminum production in the region. This industrial application leverages the Walker S2’s precision manipulation and visual inspection capabilities developed for factory environments.
Commercial Services: Supporting commercial activity at border crossings, potentially including assistance with customs declarations, duty free shopping guidance, or currency exchange information, creates more welcoming experiences for international travelers while collecting valuable data on crossing patterns and commercial needs.
China’s Strategic Push Into Embodied AI
This deployment exemplifies China’s aggressive national strategy to lead global humanoid robotics development. The country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has recently formalized its national humanoid robotics committee, with UBTech’s technology chief Xiong Youjun appointed as vice-director alongside founders from rival companies Unitree (Wang Xingxing) and AgiBot (Peng Zhihui).
The committee’s mandate includes establishing unified standards for safety, hardware interfaces, and data formats, regulatory baselines critical as robots transition from controlled factories into public spaces. UBTech’s border deployment will provide crucial real-world data informing these standards, positioning the company at the center of China’s robotics policy development.
Government support for robotics extends far beyond policy frameworks. China’s humanoid robot market is projected to reach 82 billion yuan ($11.4 billion) in 2025, potentially accounting for half of worldwide sales. State backing includes massive subsidies, preferential procurement policies, and inclusion of robotics in high-level strategic planning initiatives.
Similar deployments across China demonstrate the government’s commitment to robotics integration. During the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, immigration authorities deployed multilingual robots developed by Beijing-based iBen Intelligence. Police patrol robots operate in cities including Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport uses robots for passenger assistance. Shenzhen Customs has integrated DeepSeek’s large language model into inspection robots for cargo checks.
This coordinated push reflects China’s determination to establish leadership in embodied AI, artificial intelligence integrated with physical robots capable of acting in the real world. The border deployment represents a high-profile test case demonstrating China’s technological capabilities to both domestic and international audiences.
Aggressive Production Scaling Plans
UBTech’s ambitions extend far beyond the border deployment. The company reported cumulative orders for its Walker series reaching 1.1 billion yuan (approximately $153 million) since shipments began in November 2025. This includes a 159 million yuan contract signed for a “Humanoid Robot Data Collection Center” in Zigong earlier this month.
Chief Branding Officer Michael Tam outlined an aggressive expansion roadmap during an interview with the South China Morning Post. UBTech aims to deliver 500 industrial humanoids by the end of 2025, then increase production tenfold to 5,000 units in 2026, with a long-term target of 10,000 units annually by 2027. The company also intends to reduce manufacturing costs as production scales, targeting unit costs below $20,000 by 2030.
This production scaling relies on UBTech’s vertical integration advantages. The company operates two dedicated humanoid factories, one in Shenzhen and another in Liuzhou, Guangxi province, and describes itself as one of the few firms with “full-stack capabilities” combining R&D, manufacturing, and sales under one roof. Chief Branding Officer Tam reports that 90% of UBTech’s supply chain is now localized within China, reducing dependency on international components and supporting aggressive cost reduction targets.
The company’s financial trajectory demonstrates growing commercial traction. UBTech recently reported its interim loss narrowed by 18.5% to 440 million yuan while revenue climbed 27.5%. The company’s recent inclusion in the MSCI China Index should attract institutional capital needed to fund ambitious expansion plans.
UBTech’s shares trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where the company debuted in December 2023 as the first humanoid robot manufacturer to list publicly. Following announcement of the border deployment contract, the company also revealed plans for a share placement to raise HK$3.11 billion (US$399.6 million), providing capital for expanded production capacity and technology development.
Real-World Validation and Data Collection
For UBTech, the border deployment represents more than revenue, it provides invaluable real-world validation and data collection opportunities that accelerate technology development. For the past 20 months, Walker robots have been gathering operational data at manufacturing facilities operated by automotive companies including NIO, BYD, Zeekr, and Foxconn, along with logistics company SF Express.
These deployments focus on controlled industrial environments where robots perform repetitive tasks like quality inspection, parts sorting, and material handling. The border application introduces dramatically more complex scenarios involving human interaction, unpredictable events, language barriers, potential security threats, and high-stakes consequences if robots fail to perform correctly.
Chief Branding Officer Tam described a “positive feedback loop” where increased deployments generate real-world data that enriches simulation training data, accelerating embodied AI development. The border environment will test the Walker S2’s capabilities in ways factory trials cannot replicate, pushing the boundaries of autonomous navigation, human-robot interaction, and decision-making under uncertainty.
Data collected from border operations will inform future developments across UBTech’s entire product line, benefiting not just government applications but also commercial deployments in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and other sectors requiring sophisticated human interaction and autonomous operation.
Technical Challenges and Considerations
Despite impressive capabilities, deploying humanoid robots in border security applications presents significant challenges that will test the technology’s maturity.
Security and Privacy Concerns: Border crossings handle sensitive personal information and represent critical national security infrastructure. Ensuring Walker S2 robots protect traveler privacy, secure data transmission, and resist cybersecurity threats requires robust encryption, access controls, and security protocols. China’s approach to these concerns will influence international perception of humanoid robot deployments in sensitive government operations.
Cultural and Social Acceptance: International travelers from diverse cultural backgrounds must feel comfortable interacting with humanoid robots for guidance and assistance. While younger travelers may embrace robotic assistance, older generations or those from regions with limited technology exposure might find humanoid robots unsettling. UBTech must carefully design interaction protocols that accommodate diverse comfort levels.
Reliability Under Extreme Conditions: Border regions experience temperature extremes, dust, humidity, and other environmental challenges that stress robotic systems. While the Walker S2 is engineered for industrial environments, continuous outdoor operation in variable weather represents new demands on hardware reliability and environmental protection.
Emergency Response Protocols: What happens if a Walker S2 malfunctions during a security incident? Clear protocols for human override, emergency shutdowns, and backup procedures must be established before deployment. The pilot program will likely reveal gaps requiring additional safety systems or operational procedures.
Maintenance and Technical Support: Even with autonomous battery swapping, humanoid robots require periodic maintenance, software updates, and occasional repairs. Establishing maintenance infrastructure at border locations, potentially far from UBTech’s Shenzhen headquarters, represents a logistical challenge requiring trained technicians, spare parts inventory, and rapid response capabilities.
Broader Implications for Humanoid Robotics Industry
UBTech’s $37 million border contract sends powerful signals throughout the global robotics industry about the commercialization timeline for humanoid applications.
Validation of Industrial-Grade Humanoids: The deployment demonstrates that humanoid robots have progressed beyond research demonstrations to commercially viable tools for demanding real-world applications. This validation should accelerate investment, talent recruitment, and corporate adoption across the industry.
Government as Early Adopter: While many analysts expected commercial and industrial sectors to lead humanoid adoption, government applications, particularly in China, are emerging as significant early markets. Security, inspection, and public service applications offer governments operational efficiency while demonstrating technological leadership.
Importance of Continuous Operation: The Walker S2’s autonomous battery-swapping capability proves that 24/7 operational capability is not a luxury feature but an essential requirement for serious commercial deployments. Competitors must now develop equivalent capabilities or accept market disadvantage in applications requiring continuous operation.
China’s Growing Lead: The scale and speed of China’s humanoid deployments, supported by government backing, vertically integrated manufacturing, and massive domestic market, Chinese companies like UBTech, Unitree, and AgiBot to capture significant global market share. Western competitors face increasing pressure to accelerate development or risk falling behind in what many view as a strategic technology race.
Shift From Factory to Field: The deployment represents humanoid robotics’ transition from controlled industrial environments to unpredictable field operations requiring robust navigation, sophisticated decision-making, and resilience to unexpected events. This shift demands technology maturity levels that separate prototype demonstrations from commercial products.
Looking Ahead: December Deployment and Beyond
As December 2025 approaches and the first Walker S2 robots begin operations at China-Vietnam border crossings, the global robotics community will watch closely. Success could trigger rapid expansion of humanoid deployments across government applications worldwide. Difficulties or failures might temper enthusiasm and reveal technology gaps requiring additional development.
UBTech’s aggressive production scaling plans, from 500 units in 2025 to 5,000 in 2026 and 10,000 by 2027, demonstrate confidence that demand will materialize. However, some financial analysts have warned about potential overcapacity risks, noting that production is scaling rapidly without corresponding confirmed commercial orders beyond the announced contracts.
The company’s vision extends far beyond border security. Potential applications span healthcare assistance, elderly care, hospitality services, retail customer service, warehouse logistics, and countless other sectors where humanlike form factor, sophisticated manipulation, and autonomous operation create value. Each successful deployment provides validation encouraging adoption in adjacent applications.
For international observers, particularly in Western nations concerned about China’s technological advancement, the border deployment represents a visible demonstration of China’s robotics capabilities and strategic commitment to AI leadership. The symbolic significance of humanoid robots manning China’s borders should not be underestimated, it sends clear messages about technological prowess and willingness to deploy advanced AI systems in high-stakes applications.
Another Defining Moment for Humanoid Robotics
UBTech’s $37 million contract to deploy Walker S2 humanoid robots at China-Vietnam border crossings represents far more than a single commercial deal. It marks a defining moment in humanoid robotics’ evolution from research curiosity to practical tool reshaping how governments operate critical infrastructure.
The Walker S2’s autonomous battery-swapping capability enabling true 24/7 operation without human intervention, solves one of humanoid robotics’ most significant practical limitations. Combined with industrial-grade durability, sophisticated AI, and human-scale capabilities, the platform demonstrates that humanoid robots are ready for demanding real-world deployments today, not in some distant future.
China’s coordinated push into embodied AI, supported by government policy, massive investment, and integrated supply chains, positions the nation to capture dominant share in what Morgan Stanley projects could become a $5 trillion market by 2050. UBTech, as the first publicly traded humanoid manufacturer and now the provider of robots for sensitive border operations, stands at the forefront of this transformation.
As the first Walker S2 units begin patrolling border crossings in December, they will carry enormous responsibility—not just for securing borders and assisting travelers, but for proving that humanoid robotics has arrived as a mature, commercially viable technology ready to transform industries, governments, and societies worldwide. The success or struggles of this deployment will shape the trajectory of an entire industry for years to come.
The future of humanoid robotics is no longer confined to research laboratories and factory demonstrations. It’s walking the borders, and the world is watching.
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