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Industrial Breakthroughs Usher in a New Era
On April 19, 2024, the world's first humanoid robot half marathon concluded successfully in Beijing's Yizhuang district. In this landmark event, the “Tiangong” robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center completed the 21-kilometer course in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, setting a new record for long-distance autonomous movement by a humanoid robot. This breakthrough not only showcases China's technological prowess in robotics but also signifies that embodied intelligent robots have reached unprecedented heights in motion control capabilities. From dazzling performances on the Spring Festival Gala stage to competitive displays on marathon courses, humanoid robots are rapidly transitioning from laboratory prototypes to practical applications.
Market Scale and Competitive Landscape
Industry data indicates that the global humanoid robot market reached $2.16 billion in 2023, establishing an initial scale and entering a phase of rapid development. Authoritative forecasts predict that as major manufacturers advance their mass production plans by 2025, humanoid robots will accelerate penetration into B2B sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and warehousing, and commercial services. The global market is projected to exceed $20.6 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 57% during this period.
China's market performance stands out particularly. Data released by the China Humanoid Robot Industry Conference indicates that China's market size is projected to reach RMB 2.76 billion in 2024. Driven by both policy support and technological breakthroughs, it is expected to grow to RMB 75 billion by 2029, with a CAGR exceeding 90%. This growth trajectory benefits from the accelerated trend of “replacing humans with machines” and the substantial demand generated by the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector.
The global competitive landscape has taken shape, with international products like Tesla's Optimus, Boston Dynamics' Atlas, and Figure AI forming the first tier alongside domestic brands such as Yushu Technology, UBTech Robotics, and Zhi Yuan Robotics. The entry of consumer electronics giants like Xiaomi's CyberOne further enriches the industry ecosystem, driving technological innovation and cost optimization.
Analysis of Thermal Management Challenges
The complex structure and high-performance requirements of humanoid robots pose significant challenges to their thermal management systems. Critical cooling demands center on three core domains:
In the power system, joint servo motors and harmonic reducers generate significant heat during motion, with peak power consumption per joint reaching hundreds of watts. Within computational units, AI chips (e.g., GPUs/TPUs) and main control CPUs operate under sustained high loads, necessitating temperatures below the 85°C threshold to prevent performance throttling. Within the power system, heat generated during charging/discharging of high-energy-density batteries (18650/21700 cells) requires precise management, with optimal operating temperatures maintained between 25-40°C.
Temperature uniformity control is equally critical. Differences in thermal expansion coefficients between metal structural components and plastic housings may cause reduced motion accuracy or mechanical jamming. Various precision sensors, including vision cameras and inertial measurement units (IMUs), are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, with variations directly impacting data acquisition accuracy.
Environmental adaptability demands are even more stringent. Outdoor applications must withstand ambient temperature ranges from -20°C to 50°C, while the compact internal space and restricted airflow significantly reduce the efficiency of traditional fan-based cooling solutions.
Innovative Thermal Solutions
To address these challenges, the industry has developed a multi-tiered thermal technology roadmap:
Active cooling technologies are diversifying. Tesla's Optimus employs a liquid-cooled plate combined with micro-pumps to cool computing units, drawing on mature thermal management experience from electric vehicle batteries. Heat pipes and heat spreader plate technologies are widely applied for localized hotspot cooling. For instance, Xiaomi's CyberOne employs a graphene heat spreader layer to efficiently transfer heat from motors to the chassis.
Passive cooling designs continue to evolve. Thermal interface materials like high-conductivity thermal grease and phase change materials (PCM) are extensively used to fill gaps between chips and heat sinks. In structural design, biomimetic cooling concepts are deeply integrated. Innovative structures like honeycomb housings significantly increase heat dissipation surface area, enhancing natural convection efficiency.
Solutions for low-temperature environments are maturing. Electric heating film technology provides preheating for batteries and joints, similar to battery heating systems in new energy vehicles. Innovations in insulation materials have also advanced, with aerospace-grade aerogels and other advanced materials effectively reducing heat loss in cold conditions.
Intelligent thermal management strategies emerge as a new trend. AI algorithms predict task loads to dynamically allocate cooling resources, enabling smart power adjustment for non-critical joints. A distributed temperature sensor network establishes real-time monitoring systems, triggering tiered cooling strategies that prioritize heat dissipation for core components like computing units.
Frontier Technology Exploration and Innovation Directions
In active cooling, miniature piezoelectric fans and piezoelectric micropump technologies demonstrate significant potential. These devices, characterized by low vibration, miniaturization, and lightweight properties, align well with the compact design requirements of humanoid robots. Despite technical challenges like noise and energy consumption, companies such as Ant Power and Huitong Xidian have achieved major breakthroughs in recent years, significantly enhancing product performance.
Passive cooling technology is experiencing a wave of material innovation. The combined application of thermal interface materials and phase change materials has emerged as a new trend. This combination not only enhances thermal flux but also induces deformation upon heating, effectively filling microscopic gaps at interfaces and reducing contact thermal resistance. Companies like Honeywell, Laird, and Hon Hai Precision have made substantial investments in this field.
Innovations in metallic heat transfer materials also warrant attention. High-thermal-conductivity metal composites like diamond/copper, diamond/aluminum, and olefin aluminum alloys are gradually advancing toward practical application. By incorporating high-thermal-conductivity carbon-based materials such as diamond and graphene into traditional metals for composite modification, the thermal conductivity of base materials has been significantly enhanced. Companies like Saimo Technology and Ruiwei New Materials are driving the industrialization of these technologies.
Market Prospects and Industrial Opportunities
Comprehensive analysis indicates that the humanoid robotics industry will enter a phase of rapid growth driven by policy support, technological breakthroughs, and market demand. The domestic market is projected to exceed 70 billion yuan, while the global market is expected to surpass 20 billion USD. This substantial incremental market presents unprecedented opportunities and challenges for the thermal management sector.
Future technological development must strike an optimal balance between efficient heat dissipation, environmental adaptability, and lightweight design. In the short term, industrial applications may prioritize hybrid solutions combining liquid cooling and air cooling. Long-term, scenarios like home services will drive silent, fanless designs as the mainstream trend.
Numerous thermal management companies have already begun expanding into the humanoid robotics sector, accelerating technological innovation and industrial collaboration. As the commercialization of humanoid robots progresses, the thermal management market is poised for an explosive surge in demand. Companies that build technical capabilities in advance are likely to gain a first-mover advantage in this industrial transformation and reap substantial market dividends.
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