Chinese Quadruped Robots Take IFA: Addressing Global Labor Shortage

At the 2026 Berlin IFA consumer electronics show, quadruped robots took center stage. Shenzhen-based Xuandong Power, a first-time exhibitor, won the IFA Innovation Award in the 'Best of IFA Next & Emerging Technologies' category for its industry-grade heavy-duty quadruped robot, the Hypertron-T01. Unlike the 'dancing robots' that dominated previous booths, Xuandong Power showcased products already deployed in real-world operations.

The company's display highlighted a shift from demonstrating flashy capabilities to performing demanding tasks. The Hypertron-T01 achieves a maximum dynamic payload of 80 kilograms, navigating steep slopes, rubble, and slippery terrain with agility, directly addressing the industry pain point of 'fast but weak, or strong but unstable'.

Xuandong Power claims a self-developed core-component rate exceeding 90%, including an axial-flux motor delivering a peak torque of 600 N·m and a torque density of 240 N·m/kg, ranking among the world's top tier in related technology.

The robot's differentiation lies in its real-world validation. The Hypertron series has achieved routine operation at a major domestic power grid customer's substation, withstanding long-period unmanned continuous stability tests. A spokesperson for Xuandong Power stated at IFA that 'industry-grade quadruped robots are transitioning from display to practical use, from single-point pilots to large-scale adoption. The true ceiling for commercialization is whether they can operate reliably in real scenarios and deploy at scale.'

Export data confirms the industry inflection point. Xuandong Power's appearance is not an isolated case. Hangzhou-based Deep Robotics has deployed its quadruped robots at Switzerland's largest nuclear power plant, Leibstadt, which has been operating for over 40 years. The plant's corridors are narrow, equipment dense, and some areas pose radiation risks. Deep Robotics' robots can climb 45-degree slopes, maneuver through equipment gaps, and carry thermal imaging and acoustic sensors to precisely detect leaks and temperature anomalies, replacing human workers in routine high-risk inspections.

According to Qianjiang Customs, Hangzhou's intelligent bionic robot exports reached 410 million RMB in the first half of 2026, accounting for 95.35% of Zhejiang province's exports and over half of the national total. Across Zhejiang, first-half exports of intelligent bionic robots totaled approximately 430 million RMB, representing about 60% of China's exports in this category, covering nearly 100 countries and regions.

The center of gravity of the quadruped robot industry is clearly shifting. In past years, robotic dogs were commonly seen dancing on stages or used in university experiments. Now, they carry cameras, thermal imaging, and sensors into substations, chemical parks, and fire scenes. Liu Yulong, co-founder of Zhishen Technology, noted that by the end of June 2026, his company had cumulatively mass-produced about 15,000 units, including roughly 10,000 in that year, adding: 'Robotic dogs have encountered the specific problems of large-scale application earlier than humanoid robots.'

In response to Europe's labor shortages and the growing gap in high-risk positions, Xuandong Power announced at IFA that it will open core SDK interfaces covering motion control, sensor data, and device management. The goal is to compress the development cycle for vertical scenarios from six months to several months, enabling European local integrators and developers to quickly build solutions adapted to local conditions.

Quadruped robots are proving they are not 'toys' on display but tools that can replace humans in radiation zones, underground pipelines, and high-temperature fire scenes. As Chinese solutions systematically address the global labor shortage, this field is truly entering the second half of industrial implementation.