Top 10 Chinese start-ups in AI, automation, and robotics

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Start-ups 6-10

6. Flexiv Robotics

Headquarters: Silicon Valley and Shanghai
Founded: 2016

The company with locations in Shanghai and Silicon Valley (see above, great thing!) represents adaptive robots with force control and AI. Flexiv's "Rizon" robotic arms can grind, assemble, and polish, even with changing parameters.

The company first experienced strong growth in Asia and is now expanding its presence in Europe. The adaptive technology can be used where traditional automation is too expensive or too rigid, company spokespeople say.

7. Dobot

Headquarters: Shenzhen
Founded: 2015

Dobot from Shenzhen has already delivered over 80,000 collaborative cobots worldwide. The latest achievement is a humanoid robot named "Dobot Atom" with five fingers and an energy-efficient gait, priced below approximately 28,000 euros (approx. 32,211 USD).

The machine can "serve breakfast, seal coffee cups, and work with 0.05-millimeter precision," according to the manufacturer. Hopefully, it also helps with clearing the table and washing dishes. Initial deployments are in car factories and electronics plants.

8. Deep Robotics

Headquarters: Hangzhou
Founded: 2017

This company specializes in quadruped robots for inspections and rescue operations. The latest type, the "Lynx M20," combines wheel and leg movements, can climb stairs, detect heat and gas, and generate reports.

The devices are already in use with power providers in China and Singapore. "We combine vision, navigation, fault diagnosis, and protection systems in one platform," one of the developers told "Robotics Tomorrow."

9. Inceptio Technology

Headquarters: Shanghai
Founded: 2018

The pioneer for autonomous truck vehicles has reportedly already traveled more than 200 million kilometers on Chinese roads. The trucks operate for logistics giants like ZTO and Nestlé.

Inceptio is developing a full-stack system for autonomous logistics and also operates its own freight network. Inceptio is said to have collected 35 times more real miles than the next competitor, according to trade media. A U.S. stock market listing is planned.

10. Pudu Robotics

Headquarters: Shenzhen
Founded: 2016

The provider of delivery and cleaning robots for hotels, restaurants, and hospitals has already delivered more than 90,000 devices in 60 countries. The latest model, "Flashbot Arm," can use artificial intelligence to open doors, operate elevators, and autonomously deliver items with its robotic arms.

The slogan is: Automation without rebuilding the infrastructure. Pudu has distribution centers in the USA and Europe and is experiencing strong growth.

*Henrik Bork is Managing Director at Asia Waypoint, a consulting agency specializing in China, based in Beijing. "China Market Insider" is a joint project of Vogel Communications Group, Würzburg, and Jigong Vogel Media Advertising in Beijing.

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