🚨Chinese robots are set to make their way into U.S. factories. Texas Instruments has officially introduced the humanoid robot Walker S2 from UBTECH into its semiconductor production lines this year. According to multiple media reports, TI has already procured the robots, and the two sides may further expand their relationship into broader supply chain cooperation.

While TI deploys robots on its manufacturing lines, UBTECH is also expected to incorporate TI chips and components into its own robotic products. TI recently activated its new 300mm wafer fab, SM1, in Sherman, Texas, and plans to gradually expand capacity based on customer demand. The long-term goal is to produce tens of millions of chips per day for use in smartphones, automotive electronics, medical devices, industrial machines, and data centers.

In such high-intensity, highly automated production environments, humanoid robots are seen as an important way to enhance line flexibility and address labor constraints.

Walker S2 stands about 175 cm tall and features a dual-loop AI system that supports both autonomous single-unit operation and multi-robot collaboration. A key feature is its binocular stereo vision system, similar to human eyesight, enabling precise operations in complex factory settings.

The robot is equipped with highly flexible bionic joints and dexterous hands, capable of handling objects weighing around 15 kg, performing grasping tasks, and executing fine manipulation. Its waist rotation range and working envelope have also been optimized for production-line tasks.

One of its biggest selling points is autonomous battery swapping. It can reportedly complete an automatic battery replacement in about three minutes. When power runs low, the robot walks to a battery station, swaps batteries on its own, and resumes work — enabling 24/7 continuous operation.

UBTECH plans to scale annual production to 10,000 units by 2027 and estimates that by 2030, the cost of humanoid robots could fall below $20,000, signaling a shift from demonstration use toward large-scale industrial deployment.