Nanshan-based UBTech Robotics, the first publicly traded humanoid robot maker in China,  has launched a new consumer humanoid robot designed for personal companionship.

The UWORLD U1 series was unveiled at a launch event at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center on June 30. Featuring lifelike silicone skin and advanced emotional artificial intelligence (AI), the series reflects a growing trend among Chinese tech companies to expand robotic applications from industrial settings into domestic environments.

Guests at UBTech's product launch on June 30 are curious about the new companion robots.

More than 50 robot models with varying body types were on display, drawing curious attendees who touched the robots and posed for photos with them. The launch also featured a runway show in which humans and humanoids walked side by side on stage.

Humanoid robots during a runway show alongside humans.

According to the company, the U1 series integrates an extensive technology stack developed entirely in-house. Key features include biomimetic skin, advanced embodied intelligence hardware, and emotion-based large language models (LLMs) that enable nuanced emotional interactions. 

The robots can replicate approximately 90% of human movements, accurately recognize human emotional states in over 90% of situations, and achieve minimal delay between speech and lip movements, delivering an almost lifelike conversational experience.

UWORLD is UBTech's department that focuses on companion robots.

The series comprises three models: the semi-torso U1 Lite, priced at 119,800 yuan (US$17,600); the high-performance full-body U1 Pro, priced at 169,800 yuan; and the high-dynamic full-body U1 Ultra, available in male (990,000 yuan) and female (880,000 yuan) editions.

UBTech reported that cumulative orders for the U1 series across all channels have surpassed 13,361 units, with the first batch of deliveries scheduled for mid-September.

UBTech CEO Zhou Jian.

The robots are equipped for a range of applications, from daily companionship to providing lifelike interaction interfaces in hospitality and elder care.

UBTech founder, chairman, and CEO Zhou Jian outlined a three-stage vision for human-robot symbiosis: first, replacing hazardous and repetitive labor to free up human capacity; second, expanding into daily life through companionship services; and finally, achieving seamless human-machine integration. "The ultimate mission of technology is to remove the chains of survival labor, allowing humans to focus on creation, passion, and emotion," Zhou said.

Michael Tam, UBTech's chief brand officer and general manager of UWORLD, said that companion robots have the potential to become an important new consumer category by providing personalized emotional support throughout different stages of life.

Tam projected that China's ultra-bionic robotics market will surge from tens of billions to the trillion-yuan level between 2026 and 2036.