CICC: The trend of lightweight humanoid robots is inevitable, and the attention on the lightweight sector is increasing

According to the report released by China International Capital Corporation (CICC), the trend towards lightweight humanoid robots is becoming increasingly prominent, with Tesla and Boston Dynamics leading the way. More and more humanoid robot manufacturers are intensifying their focus on lightweight designs during product iterations. In terms of material optimization, magnesium-aluminum alloys and PEEK materials each have their advantages. The firm believes that the humanoid robot industry will enter a year of mass production in 2025, with the market expanding from previously focusing on high-barrier, high-elasticity tracks to those that can contribute elasticity after reaching a certain scale, thus increasing attention on the lightweight sector.

CICC's main viewpoints are as follows:

The trend towards lightweight humanoid robots is inevitable. Represented by Tesla and Boston Dynamics, an increasing number of humanoid robot manufacturers are emphasizing lightweight designs during product iterations. Lightweight designs can bring numerous benefits to robots: enhancing endurance, reducing motion inertia, optimizing performance, and improving safety. Similar to automotive lightweighting, robot lightweighting mainly consists of material optimization, structural optimization, and process optimization. Material optimization primarily includes the application of aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and PEEK materials, while structural and process optimizations focus on design and manufacturing process improvements.

Material optimization: Magnesium-aluminum alloys and PEEK materials each have their strengths. 1) Aluminum alloys: Excellent overall performance in terms of performance, processing difficulty, and cost, already maturely applied in the automotive field. The firm believes that it is expected to be applied in humanoid robot shells, structural components, and high-performance servo drive systems in the future.

1. Magnesium alloys: Outstanding performance, heat dissipation, and shock absorption, but previously faced significant price fluctuations and processing difficulties that limited promotion. The firm believes that with a substantial improvement in magnesium supply and the maturation of magnesium alloy die-casting processes, magnesium alloys are expected to be applied in robot skeletons, shells, joints, and heat-dissipating shock-absorbing components.

2. PEEK: Notable advantages include lightweight, high specific strength, and wear resistance, widely applied in automotive, aerospace, electronics, industrial, and medical industries. The firm believes that it is expected to be applied in robot joint gear shafts, skeletons, and protective shell components in the future.

Structural optimization and process optimization are complementary approaches, focusing on new directions in MIM. 1) Structural optimization: Structural optimization is the preferred method for achieving lightweight designs at low cost, categorized into size optimization, shape optimization, and topology optimization. The firm believes that topology optimization can balance lightweighting and performance optimization, with companies represented by Boston Dynamics already beginning to practice this, and it is expected to be widely applied in the humanoid robot field in the future.

1. Process optimization: ① MIM (Metal Injection Molding): Particularly suitable for efficient mass production of precision small parts, Figure has attempted to adopt this; ② 3D printing has advantages in lightweighting and customization, with Figure, Boston Dynamics, and others already beginning to apply it in actual production.

Risk Warning

Key technology development may fall short of expectations; commercialization progress may not meet expectations; leading manufacturers' mass production progress may lag behind expectations; risks of cost reduction in the supply chain may not meet expectations; the speed of technological upgrades in the domestic supply chain may not meet expectations