Before the flickering screens of the smart control center, operators have transformed from busy
“firefighters” into composed “supervisors”—a profound shift brought about by modern industrial
automation.
In today's manufacturing workshops, industrial robots work tirelessly with exceptional repeatability,
intelligent transport vehicles navigate predetermined routes with precision, and sensors on automated
production lines collect and transmit data in real time—together painting a picture of modern industrial
intelligence.
According to the latest data, China's domestically produced industrial robots have surpassed a 50%
market share for the first time, finding widespread application across 71 major industry categories
and 241 sub-industries within the national economy.
01 Industrial Transformation: The Automation Wave Sweeps
the Globe
The digital transformation of manufacturing is hitting the “accelerator.” In the high-tech manufacturing
sector, the PMI index remains firmly in expansion territory, significantly outperforming the overall
manufacturing average, with the industry's supportive role becoming increasingly evident.
At the heart of this transformation lies the deep integration of robotics and automation technologies.
Industrial robots, comprising manipulator arms, controllers, servo drive systems, and sensing devices, are
automated production equipment that combines optical, electrical, and mechanical technologies. They
feature human-like operation, automatic control, reprogrammability, and the capability to perform various
tasks in three-dimensional space.
They are particularly suited for flexible production involving multiple varieties and variable batch sizes.
Automated production line systems, centered around robots and utilizing information and network
technologies as mediators, connect all equipment into large-scale automated production lines.
They represent a crucial means for developing advanced manufacturing technologies and achieving
digital, networked, and intelligent production lines.
02 AI Empowerment: Intelligent Systems Reshape Production
Processes
With the advancement of artificial intelligence technology, industrial automation is undergoing a new
revolution. AI large models are deeply integrated into core industrial equipment, enabling a fundamental
shift from “manual operation” to fully automated operation.
At a chemical company's smart factory, AI transformation reduced manual operation frequency from a
peak of over 6,000 times daily and an average of over 1,600 times daily to a minimum of 0 times and an
average of less than 10 times daily.
Simultaneously, the system precisely regulates operations to enhance product quality stability, reduce
energy waste, and generate approximately 17 million yuan in annual revenue gains.
Such cases are not isolated. In the copper smelting industry, intelligent technology has fundamentally
transformed traditional metallurgical production lines.
“Traditional X-ray fluorescence analyzers required at least one hour to determine the composition of
matte copper,” explained a workshop deputy director. “Now, with the new composition analyzer, we
can precisely measure the elements and their content—such as copper, iron, and sulfur—in less
than two minutes.”
03 Diverse Applications: Robotics Penetrates Every Industry
Robotics technology has long transcended single domains, evolving toward diversified development.
Industrial robots play vital roles in automotive manufacturing, electronics assembly, and logistics sorting.
Collaborative industrial robots have emerged as the primary force in early adoption, with their market size
projected to surge from $789 million in 2023 to $2.78 billion by 2028—a compound annual growth rate of 29%.
Specialized robots demonstrate immense potential in unstructured and uncertain environments. Underwater
robots are deployed for offshore oil extraction, seabed exploration, and salvage operations; medical robots
excel in surgical planning and simulation, as well as robot-assisted surgery.
Service robots are also rapidly emerging. With the rise of new business models like unmanned retail and
automated food service, the commercial collaborative robot market surged from $14.3 million in 2019 to
$72.7 million in 2023, projected to exceed $1.2 billion by 2028.
04 Technological Convergence: Three Major Trends Shaping
the Industry's Future
Robotics and industrial automation are rapidly advancing toward intelligent, networked, and
collaborative systems.
Deep integration of artificial intelligence and robotics technology. Powered by industrial brains built on
AI large models, equipment can perform closed-loop self-perception, self-diagnosis, self-decision making,
and self-execution like humans, reducing manual labor intensity and safety risks.
Industrial network communication technologies are widely adopted. Robot controllers now connect with
CANbus, Profibus, and other networks, advancing robots from isolated applications to networked systems
and transforming them from specialized equipment into standardized devices.
Full-chain collaboration emerges as the development direction. Manufacturing digital transformation is
shifting from “single-point intelligence” to “full-chain collaboration.”
By leveraging AI large models to assist R&D, dynamically optimize complex production scheduling, and
address challenges like scarce quality inspection samples, the industry is accelerating the establishment
of an efficient new paradigm of “human-machine collaboration.”
05 Future Outlook: China's Robotics Industry Advances Toward
Quality Leap
The 15th Five-Year Plan period will be a pivotal phase for China's robotics industry to transition from
quantity to quality and advance toward becoming a robotics powerhouse. Industry experts emphasize
the need to drive the sector toward intelligent, green, and integrated development, shifting from “scale
expansion” to “quality leap.”
With the deep integration of AI large models and robot hardware, the industry is poised for explosive
growth over the next 5-10 years.
In this global race, Chinese enterprises are narrowing the gap with international giants by leveraging
supply chain advantages and diverse application scenarios.
Over the next five years, China's robotics industry will undergo a transformation from “scale expansion” to
“quality leap.” Automation technology is reshaping the DNA of manufacturing—evolving from single-machine
automation to intelligent production lines, and transitioning from simple repetitive tasks to complex
decision-making and execution.
In the near future, with the deep integration of technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G, and edge
computing, industrial automation will become more intelligent, autonomous, and flexible, propelling
manufacturing into a new era.