Kung-fu, dance, tennis… Not a day goes by without a new video of a humanoid robot performing a feat. But in this emerging market, a handful of players stand out.
Humanoid robotics is moving out of laboratories and into the real world. Long confined to research and technological demonstrations, these robots are now beginning to find their first uses in industry, logistics and even commerce.
China largely dominates the sector, driven by its two champions, AgiBot and Unitree. The United States is trying not to be left behind, with players like Tesla or Boston Dynamics. And Europe remains behind for the moment, despite the presence of players like PAL Robotics (Spain) or Neura Robotics (Germany).
This still very young market is expected to experience strong growth in the coming years. Bank of America even predicts 3 billion humanoid robots in 2060, with deployment in businesses starting in 2027.
Here are five humanoid robot projects that should be talked about in the future.
Tesla Optimus
Given the importance of a company like Tesla, its humanoid robot Optimus is particularly scrutinized.
Designed to perform dangerous, repetitive or strenuous tasks (such as handling components, sorting or assembly), Optimus is 1.73 meters tall and weighs approximately 57 kilos. It can carry loads of up to 20 kilos and has an announced autonomy of around eight hours. The robot is powered by a chip developed by Tesla and relies on the manufacturer’s vision neural networks.
Elon Musk’s company has just moved up a gear by announcing that part of its Fremont factory, previously dedicated to Tesla Model S and Model X electric cars, would now be devoted to the manufacture of the Optimus robot.
This industrial reorganization should allow Tesla to target production of up to one million robots per year by 2027according to its leader Elon Musk. The economies of scale thus achieved could make it possible to offer the robot at a price including between 20,000 and 30,000 dollarswith the ambition of making it accessible to as many people as possible.
Unitree G1
He is the rising star of humanoid robots. The G1 robot, developed by the Chinese start-up Unitree, rose to global fame in February during the Chinese New Year Gala in Beijing.
In front of nearly 700 million viewers and hundreds of millions of Internet users around the world, G1 participated in a kung fu demonstration alongside students from the Tagou martial arts school. The robot impressed with its dexterity and the fluidity of its movements.
The G1 also recently distinguished itself by entering the Guinness World Records: the robot took 130,000 steps, covering 106 km in extreme conditions, at -47°C, in the Xinjiang region, one of the most hostile in China.
Smaller than most of its competitors (it measures 1.25 m and weighs 35 kilos), the G1 is one of the most financially affordable robots. He is already available for the general public, it is sold on the Unitree website for around 13,500 dollars (11,675 euros)and you can even find it on Amazon.
It is currently mainly intended for research, but can also host events or carry out martial arts demonstrations, for example.
Founded in 2016, Unitree is now a unicorn with more than thirty investors including the giants Alibaba and Tencent. And the company is preparing an IPO on the Shanghai STAR market. Its valuation could reach $7 billion, according to some estimates.
AgiBot A2 Ultra
Chinese start-up AgiBot has made a stunning start in the race for consumer humanoid robotics. She claims to have sold 5,168 units of its different modelswhich places it neck and neck with Unitree in terms of sales.
AgiBot currently offers two models of humanoid robots. Its flagship product is the A2 Ultra, on a human scale (1.69 m and 69 kg). It is currently intended for three uses: it can take on the role of guide, particularly in trade shows, as an artist capable of performing dance or music performances, or even as an ambassador for brands.
Like the Unitree G1, A2 entered the Guinness World Records last December, after covering a little over 106 kilometers in three days. He then became the first humanoid robot to travel such a distance.
The robot also has an interface accessible via a mobile application, allowing users to control and exploit its various functionalities. It is also highly customizable (voice, expressions or behaviors) thanks to the LinkSoul platform.
Electric Atlas (Boston Dynamics)
Boston Dynamics is one of the most established robotics companies and one of the first to hit the mainstream. His robot Spot, which evokes a mechanical dog, notably inspired the creators of the series Black Mirror in 2017. The episode “Metalhead” featured a killer robot tracking down humans surviving in a post-apocalyptic world.
Since then, Boston Dynamics has also developed a humanoid robot with an impressive size. Called Electric Atlas, it measures 1.90 m and weighs 90 kilos and was designed to operate on industrial production lines. Capable of lifting loads of 50 kilos, it has a battery life of around four hours.
Electric Atlas must be deployed this year in factories of the automobile manufacturer Hyundai, which holds a 20% stake in Boston Dynamics. A partnership was also announced in January with Google DeepMind, which should allow the robot to acquire increased cognitive abilities.
There large-scale production of the robot has already started in the American manufacturer’s factories. And the latter could move up a gear in 2027, with a possible entry on the Nasdaq.
Ubtech Walker
The Chinese start-up Ubtech is one of the most active players in the humanoid robot market. It is among the companies having delivered the most units in 2025 (1000, according to Forbes), placing itself just behind Unitree and AgiBot.
In July 2025, it unveiled the Walker, deployed in several models, the S2, intended for industrial uses, and the X and C, designed for commercial functions (reception, guide, demonstrations, etc.).
The robot is capable of moving at 6 km/h, which corresponds to sporty walking on all types of terrain, and can lift loads of 15 kilos. But its main advantage is its ability to change its battery autonomously. Concretely, when the battery is almost empty, the Walker S2 goes itself to a charging station to change it, by passing its arms behind its head.
This functionality is particularly interesting for applications linked to factory production lines, since it helps limit interruptions. This attracted the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which signed a partnership with Ubtech last January to test the robot on its aeronautical production sites.
