Quadruped Robots Enter Rapid Commercialization: China Leads the Global Surge

The quadruped robot industry is experiencing a swift transition from research labs to widespread commercial adoption, with Chinese companies emerging as global leaders in innovation and deployment. These robots, designed to emulate the movement of four-legged animals such as dogs and horses, combine cutting-edge mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced sensor integration to achieve remarkable agility, stability, and autonomy in complex environments.

Key Advantages Driving Adoption

• Stability: The four-legged structure provides superior balance on uneven or unstable surfaces, making quadruped robots ideal for challenging settings like construction sites, inspection routes, and rescue operations.

• Mobility: With independently actuated legs, these robots can execute flexible gaits, navigate obstacles, and even perform jumps in cluttered or confined spaces.

• Load Capacity: Robust frames and balanced support allow the robots to carry substantial payloads without compromising stability.

• Endurance: Efficient power management paired with structural stability enables long operational periods; for example, Unitree’s B2 model can travel over 20 kilometers on a single battery charge.

• Autonomous Navigation: Integration of technologies such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), LiDAR, and AI-driven path planning equips these robots to operate with minimal human intervention, dynamically adapting to their surroundings.

From Experimental Prototypes to Real-World Solutions

The journey of quadruped robotics began in the 1960s with pioneering research at institutions like MIT’s Leg Lab. Over decades, advances culminated in notable commercial platforms such as Boston Dynamics’ Spot. More recently, Chinese firms including Unitree Robotics and DeepRobotics have accelerated this evolution, transitioning from research to widespread practical deployment.

Founded in 2016 and 2017 respectively, Unitree Robotics and DeepRobotics have become dominant players in the global market. Their models, such as Unitree’s B2 and DeepRobotics’ X30, are actively employed in industrial inspection, emergency rescue, and logistics tasks. Additionally, major technology companies like Xiaomi, Tencent, and XPeng are entering the sector, pushing the boundaries of application scenarios.

Diverse Applications Already in Action

• Military and Security: Conducting reconnaissance missions and operating in hazardous environments.

• Disaster Relief: Assisting in post-earthquake search and rescue, firefighting, and hazardous gas leak detection.

• Industrial Inspection: Monitoring infrastructure in power substations, offshore platforms, and automated factories.

• Environmental Monitoring: Performing real-time assessments of air quality and terrain conditions.

• Logistics and Mapping: Facilitating autonomous delivery services and detailed 3D spatial mapping.

• Agriculture and Home Services: Supporting harvest operations and providing robotic companionship.

China’s Strategic Leadership

China’s leadership in quadruped robotics is underpinned by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, sensor technologies, and cost-effective actuator manufacturing. In 2023, Unitree Robotics alone captured approximately 40.65% of the global market share, the highest among all competitors worldwide.

Looking ahead, China’s domestic market demand for quadruped robots is projected to soar, reaching nearly 956,000 units by 2030. This growth corresponds to a market valuation of around CNY 517.2 billion (approximately USD 71.4 billion).

As hardware costs continue to decline and AI capabilities mature, quadruped robots are positioned to transform multiple sectors—ranging from energy and utilities to manufacturing and defense—ushering in a new era of robotic innovation and commercial impact.