UBTECH Claims First Mass Deployment of Humanoid Robots

Chinese robotics company UBTECH Robotics shook the global tech community this week with a bold announcement: the company claims to have completed the world’s first mass deployment of humanoid robots. The claim immediately ignited debate across the industry, as UBTECH, Figure AI, and Tesla’s Optimus project compete for leadership in the rapidly accelerating humanoid robotics race.
But while the delivery numbers impressed observers, the real controversy erupted around a viral video showing hundreds of UBTECH’s Walker S2 robots walking in formation. Millions asked the same question: Is the footage real or CGI?

UBTECH Secures Major Industrial Orders

The Shenzhen-based company revealed that demand for its Walker S2 humanoid robot has surged. According to UBTECH, the company has secured 800 million yuan (around $113 million) in orders this year alone, spanning specialized deployments and large-scale industrial rollouts.

The firm plans to deliver 500 Walker S2 units by the end of December, with shipments already underway.
Much of the demand is coming from the automotive sector, with major players lining up, including:

• BYD

• Geely Auto

• FAW-Volkswagen

• Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor

• Foxconn (for logistics applications)

The robots are currently being tested in warehouses, assembly lines, and factory logistics operations, with early performance feedback reported as “positive.”

A Key Innovation: Autonomous Battery Swapping

One of the Walker S2’s most compelling features is its fully autonomous battery replacement system. The robot is able to:

• Detect its remaining power

• Navigate independently to a swap station

• Replace its battery pack within minutes

• Resume operation without human intervention

For factories that operate 24/7, this could be a breakthrough—reducing downtime while enabling continuous robotic labor.

UBTECH highlights additional core capabilities of the Walker S2, including:

• Advanced joint mechanics that mimic human movement

• High-strength robotic arms for heavy lifting

• Precision-optimized hand modules for delicate tasks

The Viral “Hundreds of Robots Walking” Video Sparks Controversy

The excitement around UBTECH’s announcement was quickly overshadowed by debate surrounding a widely shared promotional video showing dozens—perhaps hundreds—of Walker S2 robots walking in near-perfect synchronization.

Not everyone is convinced.

Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock, one of UBTECH’s biggest rivals, publicly claimed that the video was “entirely CGI”.
In a post on X, Adcock stated:

“The robot in front is real, but all the ones behind are CGI.
Light reflections on their heads don’t match.
When one robot fails to reflect the same ceiling light as the others, that’s a CGI giveaway.”

UBTECH has not responded to the allegations. The company provided no disclosure about whether the footage contains CGI or AI-generated enhancements, raising concerns about transparency in an industry already racing to demonstrate legitimacy.

Why the Debate Matters: The Psychological Race for “First Mass Deployment”

The reason the video matters is simple:
The first company to demonstrate a large-scale deployment of humanoid robots will gain a significant psychological, commercial, and investor advantage.

In the rivalry between UBTECH, Figure AI, and Tesla Optimus, claiming the “world’s first humanoid robot mass deployment of humanoid robots” is a milestone that reshapes market perception.

Even if the video is partially or entirely CGI, one fact remains:
UBTECH appears to be delivering real robots to real factories today.
The company’s expanding client list and industrial integration projects suggest that substantial deployments are already happening regardless of how the promotional footage was produced.

The Real Test: Performance in Real Factories

As debate over the video continues, industry experts agree on the true measure of success:
Can these humanoid robots prove themselves in high-pressure, real-world industrial environments?

This means evaluating:

• Their endurance over multi-hour shifts

• Their ability to lift, carry, and manipulate heavy materials

• Their performance in complex logistical workflows

• Their reliability in continuous, autonomous operations

Humanoid robots are no longer conceptual science-fiction projects—they are entering warehouses, automotive plants, and logistics hubs.
With the next year expected to bring massive advances in robotics, the industry will soon see whether UBTECH’s Walker S2 can deliver on its promises.