Osaka Expo 2025: China showcases AI, robots, and space tech

July 20 2025 08:25
UBTECH Robotics has just unveiled the Walker S2, the world's first humanoid robot capable of autonomous battery swapping, fundamentally changing how we think about robotic labor.

While companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics have dominated headlines with their humanoid prototypes, UBTECH has quietly solved one of the industry's most persistent problems: keeping robots operational around the clock. The implications stretch far beyond factory floors, touching everything from customer service to international diplomacy.



The Walker S2 represents more than just an engineering achievement. It's a paradigm shift toward truly autonomous industrial systems. Traditional industrial robots require scheduled maintenance windows and human oversight for basic functions like recharging. The Walker S2 eliminates these bottlenecks entirely.

Think of it like having an employee who never calls in sick, never takes lunch breaks, and handles their own equipment maintenance. The robot can maintain continuous operations across dynamic industrial scenarios, adapting to changing conditions while managing its own power needs. The technical specifications reveal the ambition behind this machine:

• Anthropomorphic bipedal locomotion: Walks and moves like a human, navigating complex industrial environments
• Autonomous hot-swappable battery system: No downtime for charging or maintenance
• 24/7 continuous operations: Works around the clock without human intervention
• Dynamic scenario adaptation: Adjusts to changing industrial conditions in real-time

This isn't just about making robots more efficient. It's about creating a new category of worker that can operate independently in ways that were previously impossible.


While the Walker S2 focuses on industrial applications, UBTECH's Walker C is making waves in an entirely different arena. The robot serves as the first embodied AI tour guide at China's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, representing a softer side of robotic diplomacy.


Standing 163 centimeters tall and weighing 43 kilograms, the Walker C embodies China's vision of human-robot interaction. Equipped with UBTECH's self-developed Embodied Interactive Large Model, it supports multilingual interactions for commercial applications, from exhibition halls to office buildings. The robot's capabilities read like a resume for the perfect hospitality worker:

• Greeting and Reception: Proactive engagement with visitors using customized database Q&A support
• Smart Guide Services: Autonomous navigation using U-SLAM technology with bespoke robotic docent services
• Whole-body Motion Control: AI-powered obstacle detection with steady movement at 6 km/h
• Human-robot Interaction: Multi-degree-of-freedom articulation that enables human-like movement and even dancing

What makes this particularly significant is the setting. International expositions have historically showcased nations' technological prowess, and China's choice to feature a humanoid robot as its first point of contact sends a clear message about where the country sees itself in the global technology race. The Walker C's deployment scenarios reveal how humanoid robots might integrate into everyday commercial life:

1. Exhibition Halls: Guide services with multilingual AI curator capabilities
2. Office Buildings: Greeting and reception services with customized database support
3. Service Centers: Live Q&A support for customer inquiries
4. Shopping Malls: Voice broadcasting and promotional activities
5. Transport Hubs: Smart guide services for travelers
6. Public Zones: Entertainment and interactive experiences

The specifications of the Walker C reveal both the impressive capabilities and current limitations of humanoid robotics. The robot operates on a 48V 15Ah lithium battery that provides different operational windows depending on activity: 4 hours standing, 2 hours walking, or 1.5 hours of charging time.

While the autonomous battery swapping in the Walker S2 solves the continuous operation problem, the Walker C's power limitations show we're still in the early stages of making humanoid robots truly practical for extended use. The robot's sensor array includes:

• Vision systems: RGBD cameras and all-scenario binocular structured light 3D cameras
• Navigation: High-precision inertial measurement units (IMU)
• Connectivity: WiFi and Bluetooth for real-time communication
• Mobility: 20 degrees of freedom enabling complex human-like movements

These components work together to create what UBTECH calls "embodied AI," where artificial intelligence doesn't just process information but acts in the physical world with human-like coordination and awareness.


Goldman Sachs projects the global market for humanoid robotics to reach $38 billion by 2035, compared to $6 billion in 2024, representing a staggering 533% increase. UBTECH's innovations position the company at the forefront of this expansion.


The competitive landscape is intensifying rapidly. Tesla plans to begin limited production of its Optimus robot in 2025, while BYD aims to deploy 1,500 humanoid robots in 2025, scaling to 20,000 by 2026. Mercedes-Benz and BMW are also making significant investments in humanoid robotics partnerships.

What sets UBTECH apart is its focus on real-world deployment rather than just demonstration. While other companies show impressive prototypes, UBTECH has robots actively working in public spaces, interacting with thousands of visitors daily at international events.


UBTECH's dual approach with the Walker S2 and Walker C reveals two different futures for humanoid robotics. The industrial Walker S2 suggests a world where robots handle dangerous, repetitive, or around-the-clock tasks that are difficult for humans. The service-oriented Walker C points toward robots as sophisticated tools for enhancing customer experiences.

The autonomous battery swapping capability of the Walker S2 is particularly significant because it addresses one of the fundamental limitations of robotic labor: the need for human oversight. When robots can maintain themselves, they become genuinely autonomous workers rather than sophisticated tools.

This shift raises important questions about the future of work. If robots can work continuously without human intervention, what role will human workers play in automated industries? UBTECH's approach suggests a gradual transition where robots first take on the most challenging aspects of work rather than replacing human workers entirely.