Chinese manufacturing giant Shanghai Electric has officially introduced its first industrial humanoid robot, named SUYUAN, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2025 in Shanghai. This event is a turning point in China’s robotic industry and represents Shanghai Electric’s commitment to advancing intelligent manufacturing and automation technologies.
SUYUAN, the humanoid robot, is built with human-like features. It stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 50 kilograms. SUYUAN’s uniqueness is its 38 degrees of freedom, which allow it to move smoothly and perform tasks with precision.
It is powered by an advanced AI processor that can perform 275 trillion operations per second. This gives it the ability to process real-time data quickly and carry out complex industrial tasks.
During a live demonstration at WAIC 2025, SUYUAN showed its skills by identifying, lifting, and moving crates of different sizes with ease. Thanks to its computer vision system and joint control, the robot completed the tasks with high efficiency. This demonstration proved that SUYUAN could significantly increase productivity in warehouses and industrial environments.
The robot uses LiDAR sensors and binocular vision, helping it to navigate busy spaces without human help. It can walk at a speed of 5 kilometers per hour and carry items weighing up to 10 kilograms. According to Shanghai Electric, this makes SUYUAN perfect for use in warehouses, assembly lines, and logistics operations.
SUYUAN stands out in its ability to understand and respond to natural language. By integrating with large language models (LLMs), SUYUAN can understand instructions given by humans and respond accordingly. This means workers can simply talk to the robot, and it will understand the task and perform it. This capability makes SUYUAN more flexible and user-friendly compared to older industrial robots.
A spokesperson from Shanghai Electric said, “SUYUAN represents a defining moment in our path toward fully autonomous industrial environments. Its launch shows our capacity to innovate at every level from AI algorithms to mechanical precision.”
Shanghai Electric revealed that it had signed two important agreements. One is a supply deal with the National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, also known as the Qinglong Project. The second is a cooperation memorandum with Fourier Robotics. These deals will help speed up the development and use of advanced humanoid robots in China and beyond.
The company explained that its approach to robotics is built on a full industry chain strategy. This means they are involved in everything from developing core technology to creating complete robot systems. Shanghai Electric currently holds 189 patent applications in humanoid robotics, with 120 of those patents already granted.
