The Year of Mass Production for Humanoid Robots Begins, with Precision Joint Components Emerging as a Core Track

In 2026, the humanoid robotics industry has officially transitioned from the R&D demonstration phase into the era of scaled mass production. According to industry data, global shipments of complete humanoid robots reached approximately 18,000 units in 2025 and are projected to exceed 50,000 units in 2026. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) have already launched special action programs for real-scenario training involving humanoid robots and embodied intelligence, with the goal of building mass-deployment capacity for tens of thousands of units by the end of 2026—a clear signal that commercial acceleration is in full swing.

 In the bill of materials (BOM) for humanoid robots, the motion actuation system—which includes precision reducers, lead screws, servo motors, and joint modules—accounts for as much as 40% to 50% of total costs, making it the decisive factor in both overall performance and cost structure. In the case of Tesla's Optimus Gen2, for example, a single unit uses 26 precision reducers, while an industrial robot typically requires 3.5 harmonic reducers plus 4 RV reducers. Precision reducers alone account for approximately 35% of total robot costs, the highest share among the three core components.

 Humanoid robots and robotic dogs pose entirely new challenges for precision joint components: joint spaces are extremely constrained, demanding higher torque density within smaller volumes; the thickness of dexterous hand joints must be kept within 4mm, while quadruped robot joints must withstand impacts exceeding 100G. At the same time, continuous operation for tens of thousands of hours requires extremely low performance degradation over time, with long-term stability far exceeding traditional industrial standards. Planetary roller screws offer load capacities 3 to 6 times that of ball screws and service lives 10 to 15 times longer, making them the core transmission solution for heavy-load joints such as hips and shoulders in humanoid robots.

Notably, core components account for over 50% of total robot costs, yet there remains significant room for domestic substitution in key parts such as mid-to-high-end precision reducers and high-precision encoders. As domestic supply chains achieve technological breakthroughs in areas like harmonic reducers and planetary roller screws and secure partnerships with top-tier customers, precision component manufacturers are now confronting a billion-yuan-level incremental market opportunity.

 Industry analysts believe that the mass-production ramp-up of humanoid robots and robotic dogs will directly drive precision components to evolve from "prototype-grade" to "automotive-grade" quality standards, imposing higher requirements on suppliers in terms of batch delivery capacity, consistency, and cost control. Companies with deep expertise in precision machining processes and proven capabilities in scaled production are well positioned to capture strategic footholds in this wave of industrial transformation.