UBTECH and Shenhao Team to Deploy Humanoids on State Grid Substations
UBTECH Robotics and Hangzhou Shenhao Technology signed a strategic partnership in Shenzhen to jointly deploy humanoid robots into State Grid and China Southern Power Grid substations under State Grid's 6.8B yuan embodied intelligence plan.
Key Takeaways
UBTECH Robotics and Hangzhou Shenhao Technology (SHE: 300853) signed a strategic partnership in Shenzhen on July 8 to deploy humanoid robots in State Grid and China Southern Power Grid substations and distribution rooms.
The partners will form a Joint Innovation Laboratory for Embodied Intelligence in Power Applications to define technical specifications and safety standards for substation robots.
Humanoids with multimodal sensors will perform infrared temperature checks, defect detection, switching operations and grounding-wire installation, autonomously navigating narrow passages and stairs.
State Grid's 2026 Embodied Intelligence Development Plan calls for roughly 8,500 embodied-intelligence devices with about 6.8 billion yuan of investment; total power-sector spend could top 10 billion yuan this year.
The deal gives UBTECH a heavyweight domestic reference customer as its Walker S2 fleet crosses 1,000 units, cementing utilities as a headline vertical alongside warehousing, logistics and auto manufacturing.
Kaan Tınmaz
The Chinese power grid is about to become the largest addressable market for humanoid robots. On July 8, UBTECH Robotics and Shenzhen-listed Hangzhou Shenhao Technology (SHE: 300853) signed a strategic partnership agreement in Shenzhen to put humanoid robots into operations and maintenance work across State Grid and China Southern Power Grid substations and distribution rooms.
What the deal covers
The two companies plan to fuse UBTECH's embodied-intelligence humanoid platform with Shenhao's two-decade record of system integration and on-the-ground deployment in the power sector. Together they will build software-hardware integrated solutions for substation inspection and stand up a Joint Innovation Laboratory for Embodied Intelligence in Power Applications to define technical specifications and safety standards. In typical substations, humanoid robots equipped with multimodal sensors will handle infrared temperature checks, defect detection, switching operations and grounding-wire installation, navigating narrow passages and climbing stairs autonomously.
Backed by a 6.8B yuan grid procurement plan
State Grid has already released its 2026 Embodied Intelligence Development Plan, outlining procurement of roughly 8,500 embodied-intelligence devices with total investment of about 6.8 billion yuan. Factoring in follow-through from China Southern Power Grid and regional energy groups, total industry spend on embodied intelligence in the power sector is on track to exceed 10 billion yuan this year.
Humanoids' new go-to-market
The deal cements the utility sector as a headline vertical for humanoid deployment, alongside warehouse fulfillment, logistics ramping and auto manufacturing. For UBTECH, it also adds a heavyweight domestic reference customer as its Walker S2 fleet crosses 1,000 units.
Reporting based on coverage from Gasgoo, Shenhao Technology press releases and UBTECH announcements.
What did UBTECH and Shenhao Technology agree to do?
They signed a strategic partnership in Shenzhen to jointly deploy humanoid robots for operations and maintenance across State Grid and China Southern Power Grid substations and distribution rooms, combining UBTECH's embodied-intelligence humanoid platform with Shenhao's two decades of power-sector system integration.
What tasks will the humanoid robots perform in substations?
Equipped with multimodal sensors, they will handle infrared temperature checks, defect detection, switching operations and grounding-wire installation, while autonomously navigating narrow passages and climbing stairs.
How big is State Grid's embodied intelligence procurement plan?
State Grid's 2026 Embodied Intelligence Development Plan outlines procurement of about 8,500 embodied-intelligence devices with roughly 6.8 billion yuan in investment, and total industry spend in the power sector is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan this year.
Why does this deal matter for UBTECH?
It adds a heavyweight domestic reference customer in the utility sector just as UBTECH's Walker S2 fleet crosses 1,000 units, establishing power grids as a major go-to-market vertical for its humanoids.
