UBTech’s Humanoid Robots Step Into Airbus Factories in Global Manufacturing Push

Chinese robotics company UBTech is taking one of its biggest steps yet toward globalising humanoid robots, partnering with European aviation giant Airbus to deploy its Walker S2 robots in aircraft manufacturing. 

The deal puts UBTech’s Walker S2 robots into one of the world’s most complex and tightly regulated industrial environments, and highlights China’s accelerating push to lead the next phase of industrial automation.

Under the agreement, Airbus has purchased UBTech’s Walker S2 humanoid robots and will work with the Shenzhen-based company to explore how they can be used inside its aircraft manufacturing facilities. Neither side has disclosed how many robots are involved or the deal’s value, but the agreement appears to be an early-stage collaboration focused on trials rather than full-scale deployment.

Why aviation manufacturing

Aircraft production is among the most demanding sectors in the world, and the most challenging when it comes to industrial automation. Assembly processes require extreme precision, strict safety compliance, and constantly changing tasks carried out across large, crowded factory floors. Traditional industrial robots, which are usually fixed in place and programmed for a single job, struggle in this kind of environment.

This is where testing humanoid robots comes in. By testing humanoid robots, Airbus is signalling interest in machines that can perform tasks traditionally handled by humans, such as moving components, operating tools, or working across multiple stations. Meanwhile, the robots would still offer consistency and endurance. Humanoid robots are seen as particularly attractive because they can be deployed in existing factories without extensive redesign, unlike traditional fixed automation systems.

Airbus’ decision to test humanoid robots suggests the company is seriously exploring whether this flexibility can translate into real productivity gains.

Inside UBTech’s Walker S2

UBTech’s Walker S2, launched in July last year, is the company’s flagship humanoid robot designed for industrial settings. According to reports from the South China Morning Post, the robot stands about 1.76 metres tall and weighs around 70 kilograms, roughly the size of an adult human. It is equipped with dexterous arms and hands, a vision system for understanding its surroundings, and a rotating waist that allows it to turn nearly 180 degrees without moving its feet.

It can carry loads of up to 15 kilograms and walk at speeds comparable to a brisk human pace, or speeds similar to a human on a factory floor. One of its most striking features is its ability to swap its own batteries autonomously, allowing it to keep working without long charging breaks. That kind of continuous operation is especially appealing for factories that run multiple shifts.

At the software level, the Walker S2 is powered by UBTech’s self-developed “Co-Agent” artificial intelligence system, which coordinates motion, perception, and task execution, helping the robot coordinate movement, recognise objects, and adapt to different tasks as it navigates a production environment.

From China’s factories to global production lines

The Airbus deal follows a similar overseas partnership announced last month with US semiconductor maker Texas Instruments, which has already been testing the Walker S2 on its production lines. Together, the agreements point to an aggressive overseas expansion strategy aimed at proving that Chinese humanoid robots can meet the standards of global manufacturers.

UBTech’s aggressive expansion beyond China is targeting sectors such as aviation, semiconductors, automotive manufacturing, and consumer electronics. At home, UBTech has already placed Walker S2 robots with major customers, including electric vehicle maker BYD and electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn.

As of late December, around 1,000 Walker S2 units had been produced at UBTech’s factory in Liuzhou, southern China, putting UBTech among the world’s leading humanoid robot makers by shipment volume.

Rapid growth and investor momentum

Founded in 2012 in Shenzhen, UBTech became the first Chinese humanoid robotics startup to go public when it listed in Hong Kong at the end of 2023. The company reported orders for its humanoid robots reaching 1.4 billion yuan (around $201 million) last year, and it expects to ship tens of thousands of industrial humanoids this year as production ramps up.

Investors have been quick to respond with confidence following its overseas push. UBTech’s shares increased nearly 7 per cent after news of the Airbus deal, showing growing optimism that humanoid robots are moving closer to large-scale commercial use.

A new robotics race heats up

The partnership also reflects broader global competition in humanoid robotics. With labour shortages, rising costs, and increasing pressure to automate, manufacturers are watching closely to see whether humanoid robots can deliver on their promise. Some industry leaders have described the development of humanoid robots as a modern “space race,” with China aiming to secure an early lead through faster commercial deployment and scale.

For Airbus, the collaboration is a meaningful experiment in the future of aircraft manufacturing. For UBTech, it is a high-profile vote of confidence, and another sign that Chinese humanoid robots are beginning to find a place on the world’s most advanced factory floors.

Also read: Atlas has moved beyond flashy lab demos, taking its first real factory job inside a parts warehouse at a Hyundai plant.

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