Airbus Taps China's UBTECH to Test Walker S2 Robot in Aircraft Assembly
Key Points
- 1Airbus purchased UBTECH's Walker S2 industrial humanoid robot for testing in aircraft manufacturing facilities, marking a significant entry for Chinese robotics into global aerospace.
- 2The Walker S2 features autonomous battery-swapping, enabling 24/7 continuous operation, a key capability for demanding industrial environments like aircraft assembly.
- 3The deal is part of UBTECH's accelerating overseas push, following a prior partnership with U.S. semiconductor maker Texas Instruments.
- 4Chinese firms, including UBTECH, led the global humanoid robot market in 2025 shipments, highlighting the country's rapid dominance in this emerging sector.
Chinese humanoid robot developer UBTECH has secured a significant deal with European aviation giant Airbus. The agreement involves Airbus purchasing UBTECH’s Walker S2 industrial humanoid robot. This robot will be deployed for testing in Airbus manufacturing facilities. The goal is to jointly explore humanoid robot applications in complex aviation manufacturing. This collaboration marks a key milestone for robotics in the global aerospace sector.
Strategic Global Expansion
This partnership highlights UBTECH’s accelerating overseas expansion efforts. The Shenzhen-based firm is targeting global manufacturing markets, including Europe and the United States. This follows a similar partnership established last year with U.S. semiconductor maker Texas Instruments. Texas Instruments has been testing the Walker S2 on its production lines.
UBTECH is focused on deploying its robots across several industrial sectors. These include automotive, consumer electronics, and smart logistics, in addition to aviation. The company reported strong financial momentum in 2025. Total orders for its humanoid robots reached 1.4 billion yuan (about $200 million). Furthermore, UBTECH expects its industrial humanoid robot production capacity to exceed 10,000 units in 2026.
The Walker S2: A New Tool for Aerospace
The Walker S2 is a full-size industrial humanoid robot. It stands 1.76 meters tall and is purpose-built for factory environments. A critical feature is its world-first autonomous battery-swapping system. This system allows the robot to operate continuously, enabling 24/7 operations with minimal downtime. The robot can carry items weighing up to 15kg. It also features the firm's self-developed “Co-Agent” artificial intelligence system.
Humanoid robots are attractive for aircraft assembly. They can perform tasks traditionally handled by humans. This includes moving components and operating tools in complex, crowded factory floors. Unlike fixed automation systems, humanoids offer flexibility and can be deployed without extensive factory redesign. The collaboration with Airbus is an important experiment. It tests the robot's ability to handle the extreme precision required in aircraft production.
China's Lead in Humanoid Robotics
An industry report highlights the rapid rise of Chinese robotics firms. These companies have emerged as the largest producers of humanoid robots worldwide in 2025. According to a report from tech consultancy Omdia, Shanghai-based AgiBot led the market. AgiBot secured a 39-percent share with an annual shipment volume of over 5,100 units. Unitree followed with 4,200 units shipped. UBTECH was third, recording a shipment volume of 1,000 units last year. This data underscores China's drive to secure an early lead in this emerging manufacturing sector. The deal with Airbus is a high-profile vote of confidence. It demonstrates the practical potential of Chinese-made humanoid robots on advanced global factory floors.
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