Humanoid robots are taking a giant leap forward in the automotive industry, thanks to a groundbreaking deployment at a high-tech factory in China. These next-generation machines are now collaborating in real-time across complex manufacturing tasks, showcasing the future of intelligent production lines.
Walker S Robots Take the Lead in Ningbo
The factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, operated by Zeekr—a subsidiary of automotive giant Geely—has become a pioneering site for UBTech’s Walker S1 humanoid robots. These robots are now actively engaged in various tasks across the production line, including final assembly, instrumentation, quality control, and vehicle assembly.
BrainNet and the Internet of Humanoids
Powering this transformation is UBTech’s proprietary BrainNet, a sophisticated AI framework that serves as the nerve center of the robot swarm. BrainNet integrates cloud and device collaborative inference nodes and skill modules, creating a dual-layered AI system: a ‘super brain’ and an ‘intelligent sub-brain’.
The super brain uses a large reasoning multimodal model to manage decision-making and complex coordination, while the sub-brain enables multi-robot control and adaptive learning. This structure allows the robots to share knowledge, learn from each other, and enhance their skills over time.
Collaborative Robotics in Action
Unlike traditional automation where machines function in isolation, these humanoid robots are working together, performing tasks like collaborative sorting, precision handling, and synchronized assembly. This swarm-based operation is a key milestone in the evolution of smart factories.
UBTech has confirmed that dozens of Walker S units are already active on the floor, and images and videos demonstrate these machines lifting heavy components and solving dynamic tasks—shoulder to shoulder with one another.
DeepSeek-R1 Brings Human-Like Reasoning
Each robot is enhanced with DeepSeek-R1, one of the world’s first large reasoning multimodal models designed specifically for humanoids. This enables the robots to apply common-sense decision-making and manage scheduling autonomously, a major breakthrough in robotics and AI integration.
For more on how Chinese AI is pushing the boundaries of global innovation, explore this deep dive into DeepSeek’s global influence.
Expanding Footprint in Auto Factories Worldwide
The success at Zeekr’s facility is not an isolated case. UBTech’s Walker S robots are also being utilized by automakers such as Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, Geely Auto, BYD, Foxconn, FAW-Volkswagen Qingdao, and Audi FAW. This makes the Walker S the most widely deployed humanoid robot in the global automotive sector.
By combining swarm intelligence with advanced AI reasoning, UBTech is setting a new benchmark in intelligent manufacturing. As these robots continue to evolve and scale across industries, the line between human and machine collaboration is becoming increasingly seamless.
Stay tuned as humanoid robotics redefine what’s possible in the factory of the future.
