Latest news with #UBTech
Fox News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
Humanoid robot swaps its own battery to work 24/7
Robots used to need our help to keep going. They had to be plugged in or manually recharged. Now, UBTech is changing that. The company's new humanoid, the Walker S2, has a feature that could reshape the future of factory work. It can swap out its own battery, requiring no human intervention. That means it can keep going, almost nonstop, 24/7. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Instead of shutting down to recharge, the Walker S2 walks to a nearby swap station. When one battery starts to run low, the robot turns its torso, uses built-in tools on its arms and removes the drained battery. It then picks up a fresh one, plugs it in and gets back to work immediately. The entire process takes about three minutes. This system is similar to battery-swapping tech used in electric vehicles. But this time, it's for humanoid robots. The Walker S2 is the size of a small adult. It's 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 95 pounds. It has two 48-volt lithium batteries. When one runs out, it switches to the other. Each battery lasts approximately two hours while walking or four hours when the robot is standing still. Swap stations also monitor battery health. If a battery starts to degrade, a technician can replace it. UBTech claims the Walker S2 is designed for real-world use. It has been tested in car factories operated by BYD, Nio and Zeekr. These robots are not just for show. They have vision systems to detect battery levels. A green light indicates that a battery is ready to use. The robot reads that, picks it up and plugs it in using a USB-style connector. The robot also features a display face to communicate its status to human workers. And, yes, there's an emergency stop button, just in case. China is investing heavily in robotics. More than 1,600 robotics companies operate in Shenzhen, UBTech's home base. Projects range from humanoids like the Walker S2 to delivery robots that ride the subway and restock convenience stores. This move toward automation is about global competition. China is betting on AI and robotics to lead the next era of manufacturing. Robots like the Walker S2 are built to work nonstop. That changes what the workplace looks like, not just in factories, but everywhere. You could start seeing machines like this in airports, warehouses or even hospitals. They handle the physical tasks. You focus on the thinking, planning or managing. For businesses, 24/7 automation means more output without adding more staff. It keeps operations moving, day and night. This tech is no longer a preview of what's next. It's starting to show up on real job sites. UBTech's Walker S2 is an example of how automation is moving beyond the lab and into the workplace. With battery swapping, humanoid robots may soon be able to work longer hours than any human could ever do. They don't take coffee breaks. They don't sleep. They just keep going. Would you be comfortable working next to a robot that never needs rest, and would you worry it would eventually take your job? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
China world-first sparks warning for thousands of Aussie workers
A Chinese robotics company has unveiled a world-first development that could see thousands of Australians out of a job in the coming years. UBTech's Walker S2 is different from its competitors because it can replace its own battery. This means it could work 24/7 and only take a short break to swap over its power cell before picking up where it left off. Morris Misel is a futurist who predicts how current trends will evolve in the coming years, and he told Yahoo Finance this type of robot could be a certain employer's dream. "Humans, even with the best of intent, fail at times," he said. RELATED AI warning following 'extraordinary' prediction The top 10 highest salaries in Australia paying up to $700,000 Rare 5 cent coin worth 25,000 times its value due to 'double headed' detail "We get a bit tired, we don't see something, we don't do something, not because of malice but just because we're human. "A robot is less likely to have those flaws. It will just repeat the same task over and over and over again." The S2 is only 162cm tall and weighs 43kg. It has a dual-battery system that allows the robot to walk for two hours or stand for four hours before it needs a replacement. The battery takes around 90 minutes to recharge. But it would be able to work day and night, seven days a week, not require annual or sick leave (unless it had to go in for maintenance), it wouldn't slack off, and it wouldn't get distracted by phone or social media notifications. By all measures, it could be the perfect employee minus the jobs could be under threat from robots in Australia The first application of these robots in Australia that might spring to mind would be in warehouses. While many already have certain levels of automations, the Walker S2 would be able to complete the more monotonous and physically demanding tasks involved in warehousing, like moving and checking inventory. But Misel pointed out one major flaw with a robot like the S2 that might impede its infiltration into the warehousing sector. "These robots are human size," he told Yahoo Finance. "That's important, because warehousing is often three, four, or five pallets high, and you need a forklift to get into those. It's not as if these robots have jet packs. "These are ground-level machines that can pick and pack well, and they will have a purpose, a place, but they're not going to totally replace what we have." Other sectors at risk from robot workers Misel highlighted that these robots could be deployed in other sectors with far more value. "When you start looking at aged care, at hospitality, health care, general logistics of loading and unloading, those sorts of things, I think that's where these robots actually may be more purposeful," he said. He pointed to Japan, which has been experimenting with robots in aged care for more than a decade. They work in different capacities like moving elderly people from one place to another, lifting them out of their beds or chairs, or acting as a someone (or thing) to talk to. The Japanese government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to perfect the technology. Misel said the S2 could also be deployed in hospitals in a similar fashion, as well as certain hospitality venues for repetitive tasks. "Hospitality has back of house, so in the restaurants, kitchens, hotels, and logistics areas... there's lots of use for robots if the task is really routine," he added. How long until robots start taking jobs? But the futurist admitted Australia's uptake of robotics in the past has been "terrible" and he doesn't believe we'll have S2 robots taking jobs at least for a few years. These machines also cost a pretty penny, so employers would have to weigh up whether the cost is worth it. Misel said the introduction of robots to the workforce like what he described would require answers to big questions around legislation, insurance and ethics. If a robot dropped an elderly care resident, who would be responsible or liable? Would there have to be new laws to protect robot rights? Would protections need to be introduced to ensure Aussie workers aren't wiped out by robots that can work 24/7? Misel said Australia needed to start getting ready to answer those questions. Data from the Australian Computer Society found back in 2020 that more than seven million Australians were at risk of having their jobs automated or augmented by robots and AI by 2035. The report found healthcare, social assistance, retail, and wholesale, were the most likely sectors to be replaced by robotic in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Irish Independent
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
China unveils world's first robot that runs on its own and swaps batteries by itself
Robotics firm UBTech, headquartered in Shenzhen, says its humanoid bot can autonomously complete battery replacement in under three minutes without shutting down, allowing it to operate continuously with minimal human intervention. The firm, the first humanoid robot maker to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange, said in an X video last week its Walker S2 robot supported battery swap, making it the first of its kind in the world. The video shows the robot walking over to a charging station, removing the battery from its back, inserting it into a charging dock, and installing a fresh one. Local media reports suggest the robot monitors its power levels and swaps batteries when needed. The humanoid bot is equipped with power-balancing technology and a battery designed to plug in like a USB stick. The company previously said it was collaborating with electric vehicle manufacturers like Nio and BYD to test and utilise its humanoid robots on production lines. In February, an earlier version of the robot, Walker S1, participated in AI event LEAP 25 in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating it could perform multi-task functions like handling and sorting parcels. The company, however, has not yet announced a target for large-scale production of Walker S2. Shenzhen is home to over 1,600 robotics companies, which promote the use of robotics across China's industries. China has risen to third on the list of countries using most robots in manufacturing, behind only South Korea and Singapore. According to a 2024 report, China uses 470 robots per 10,000 employees, far surpassing powerhouses like Germany and Japan with, respectively, 429 and 419. China has made significant strides in key robotics technologies such as motion control and high-performance servo drives
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- News.com.au
China makes history by creating world's first 24/7 worker
The world's first 24/7 worker has arrived – and it takes no breaks, needs no pay rises or a wink of sleep. UBTech, one of China's leading humanoid robotics companies, has unveiled a world-first innovation with its Walker S2 – a tall, human-like robot that has just demonstrated the ability to swap its own battery in under three minutes. The robot stands at 162cm tall and weighs 43 kilograms – making it roughly the size of a small adult. Local Chinese media revealed that not only can it change its own battery but it is also capable of detecting how much power it has left and then deciding whether it's best to swap out its batteries based on the priorities of its tasks. In promotional footage posted online, the Walker S2 can be seen walking itself to a battery station, reaching behind its body and removing its previous battery, before installing a fresh one. The clip, which has amassed close to 100,000 views, left people divided. 'I can see my job flashing before my eyes,' wrote one viewer. 'We are so done,' wrote another. 'Scary. You never know when a robot might take your position and make you unemployed,' wrote a third. The white and black robot has a featureless, dark face panel and walks upright like a human – resembling something out of a sci-fi horror movie. However creepy, the display marks a massive milestone for the tech world and is the first step towards machines that could work around the clock without human intervention. The robot is designed to be deployed in settings like factories or as a human-like machine to greet customers in public venues. For now, the Walker S2 remains a showcase of what's possible. But in a future of offices, warehouses and factories filled with machines that never call in sick and don't have to be paid – it's not hard to imagine where they could take us.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
China unveils world's first robot that runs on its own and swaps batteries by itself
A Chinese company claims to have developed the world's first humanoid robot capable of running on its own and swapping its batteries when needed. Robotics firm UBTech, headquartered in Shenzhen, says its humanoid bot can autonomously complete battery replacement in under three minutes without shutting down, allowing it to operate continuously with minimal human intervention. The firm, the first humanoid robot maker to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange, said in an X video last week its Walker S2 robot supported battery swap, making it the first of its kind in the world. The video shows the robot walking over to a charging station, removing the battery from its back, inserting it into a charging dock, and installing a fresh one. Local media reports suggest the robot monitors its power levels and swaps batteries when needed. The humanoid bot is equipped with power balancing technology and a battery designed to plug in like a USB stick, making it easy to insert and remove. In a post on X, UBTech described Walker S2 as 'the world's first humanoid robot capable of autonomous battery swapping' and said it was developed to support '24/7 non-stop working'. #WalkerS2 - The World's First #HumanoidRobot Capable of Autonomous Battery Swapping.→ Anthropomorphic Bipedal Locomotion → Autonomous hot-swappable battery system→ Autonomous battery swapping, 24/7 continuous operationsSwarm Intelligence 2.0 is coming soon! — UBTECH Robotics (@UBTECHRobotics) July 17, 2025 The company previously said it was collaborating with electric vehicle manufacturers like Nio and BYD to test and utilise their humanoid robots on production lines. In February, an earlier version of the robot, Walker S1, participated in AI event LEAP 25 in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating it could perform multitask functions like handling and sorting parcels. The company, however, has not yet announced a target for large-scale production of Walker S2. Shenzhen is home to over 1,600 robotics companies, which promote the use of robotics across China's industries. China has risen to third on the list of countries using most robots in manufacturing, behind only South Korea and Singapore. According to a 2024 report by the International Federation of Robotics, China uses 470 robots per 10,000 employees, far surpassing industrial powerhouses like Germany and Japan with, respectively, 429 and 419. China has made significant strides in key robotics technologies such as motion control and high-performance servo drives, creating a technology ecosystem for a strong push towards automation. The country holds over two-thirds of the world's robot-related patents, totalling 190,000.
