Robotics Daily Brief - 04/28/26
Round-up of the most critical robotics news from the past 24 hours
The robotics sector is witnessing massive capital influx and procurement scale-up, highlighted by State Grid’s 6.8 billion yuan embodied intelligence plan and Robot Era’s $200 million funding round. Meanwhile, hardware suppliers are rapidly pivoting to support the burgeoning humanoid robot supply chain.
Major Procurements & Funding
State Grid Corporation 6.8 Billion Yuan Robot Procurement Plan (国家电网)
State Grid Corporation of China has internally issued its “2026 Embodied Intelligence Development Plan,” outlining a massive procurement initiative for approximately 8,500 embodied intelligence devices this year, with a total investment of 6.8 billion yuan (approximately $940 million). The procurement is divided into three main categories: 5,000 quadruped inspection robots budgeted at 1.5 billion yuan for substations and mountainous terrain; 500 humanoid live-wire work robots budgeted at 2.5 billion yuan for high-voltage operations; and 3,000 dual-arm inspection robots budgeted at 1.8 billion yuan. Key suppliers expected to benefit include Yushu, Zhiyuan, UBTECH, Fourier Intelligence, and Yunshenshu. The deployment of these robots, supported by 5G-A networks, has reportedly improved inspection efficiency by 84%. Industry analysts project that if Southern Grid and local energy groups follow suit, total power sector investment in embodied intelligence could exceed 10 billion yuan in 2026. [1]
Robot Era Raises Over $200 Million Led by SF Express (星动纪元)
Chinese humanoid-robot startup Robot Era has successfully raised over $200 million in a new funding round led by logistics giant SF Express. This follows a previous 1 billion yuan ($146 million) round in March 2026, pushing the company’s valuation above 10 billion yuan. Robot Era’s humanoid robots have already been deployed in over 10 logistics centers operated by SF Express and China Post, achieving 85% of human efficiency levels. The company plans to deliver thousands of units in the second quarter of 2026. The funding round also saw participation from prominent investors including HongShan Capital, IDG Capital, CICC Capital, Hillhouse Investment, CDH VGC Fund, Alibaba, and Geely Capital. [2]
Product Launches & Supply Chain
Kinetix AI Launches KAI — World’s First 115-DOF Full-Size Humanoid Robot (超维动力)
Kinetix AI, an angel-round investee of Qingniao Zhikong, officially launched its full-size humanoid robot, KAI, at the “GIFTED” event. KAI features an impressive 115 degrees of freedom (DOF) across its body, including a 36-DOF dexterous hand. Powered by a 1.7 kWh semi-solid-state battery, the robot can perform continuous dual-arm operations for up to three hours and handle a payload of nearly 20 kg. A standout feature is its full-body tactile skin, equipped with 18,000 touch points capable of sensing light contact as delicate as 0.1N. This launch marks a significant step in transitioning embodied intelligence from laboratory settings to real-world applications. [3]
Unitree R1 Humanoid Robot Set for Global Launch via AliExpress (宇树科技)
Unitree Robotics is expanding its international reach by launching its most affordable humanoid robot, the R1, on AliExpress. Priced at 29,900 yuan (approximately $4,000) domestically, the R1 will be available for around $4,700 to international business customers. Standing approximately 4 feet tall, the R1 is capable of walking and performing athletic movements like cartwheels, though it lacks functional fingers. With a battery life of about one hour, it is primarily targeted at developers, universities, laboratories, and robotics enthusiasts. The robot comes equipped with cameras, microphones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a developer kit. This move aligns with Unitree’s broader expansion strategy, following its STAR Market IPO filing in March 2026 and a reported 2025 revenue of 17.08 billion yuan. [4]
Auto Parts Suppliers Expand into Humanoid Robot Embodied Intelligence at Auto China 2026
The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) highlighted a growing trend of auto parts suppliers expanding into the humanoid robot and embodied intelligence sectors. Aptiv unveiled its Pulse integrated radar and vision perception system designed specifically for humanoid robots, alongside strategic partnerships with Vecna Robotics and Robust.AI. Swiss supplier Versigent showcased how its wiring harness expertise can be applied to humanoid robots, while French company Valeo displayed its humanoid robot-oriented hardware and software, which are already being utilized in its own manufacturing facilities. According to Goldman Sachs China, the industry needs orders exceeding 10,000 units to support the formation of a large-scale supply chain. [5]
[1] Qianzhan / Cailian News: State Grid Corporation 6.8 Billion Yuan Robot Procurement Plan (https://t.qianzhan.com/caijing/detail/260424-d7775f54.html)
[2] Caixin Global: Robot Era Raises More Than $200 Million as China’s Humanoid Robot Race Heats Up (https://www.caixinglobal.com/2026-04-27/robot-era-raises-more-than-200-million-as-chinas-humanoid-robot-race-heats-up-102438549.html)
[3] Securities Times: Kinetix AI Launches KAI — World’s First 115-DOF Full-Size Humanoid Robot (https://www.stcn.com/article/detail/3843424.html)
[4] Notebookcheck: Unitree robot at a bargain price: Coming soon to AliExpress worldwide (https://www.notebookcheck.net/Unitree-robot-at-a-bargain-price-Coming-soon-to-AliExpress-worldwide.1283610.0.html)
[5] Yicai Global: Auto Parts Suppliers Expand into Humanoid Robot and Embodied Intelligence Businesses (https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/auto-parts-suppliers-expand-into-humanoid-robot-and-embodied-intelligence-businesses)