Confirmed as a Robot Company Test, Not Deployed by Traffic Authorities
Humanoid Robot-Related Stocks Soar Recently in China
In China, where the field of 'humanoid robots' resembling humans is rapidly emerging, a robot guiding traffic has recently been spotted. On the 24th, local Chinese media such as Xin Jing Bao reported that on the 22nd, a humanoid robot imitating a traffic police officer was spotted on a street in Beijing. Photos and videos taken by those who saw the robot show that it appeared to be about 130 cm tall and moved its arms up and down and side to side to guide pedestrians at a crosswalk. It even crossed the crosswalk itself.
As pedestrians gathered to see the robot, traffic congestion in the area temporarily worsened. Although somewhat awkward, the robot’s movements mimicking a traffic police officer quickly spread on social media and online communities. This led to various speculations about the robot’s identity. Since the robot was wearing a fluorescent safety vest, the theory that it was newly deployed by Beijing traffic authorities gained traction. This was partly because there had been recent reports of humanoid robots being deployed for traffic police duties in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
Recently, humanoid robots have been used for traffic police duties in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. TikTok
However, local media confirmed that the robot was not related to the traffic police. It was revealed that the robot was undergoing testing by a robot development company based in Beijing, and Beijing traffic authorities requested the company’s staff to withdraw the robot. They also advised that such tests should be conducted in non-public places and warned that deliberate disruption of traffic order could result in fines.
China’s humanoid robot industry is expected to rapidly develop starting this year, and related companies’ stock prices are soaring. Companies showing triple-digit growth rates within a week, hitting daily upper limits, are emerging one after another. According to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on the 24th, the stock price of Hangchi Qianjin (杭齒前進) surged 114% over eight trading days from the 12th to the 21st. During the same period, its market capitalization jumped from 3.782 billion yuan (about 750 billion KRW) to 8.16 billion yuan (about 1.6 trillion KRW). Hangchi Qianjin, a state-owned enterprise, manufactures gear devices for various fields such as shipbuilding and wind power generation. It attracted market attention by announcing on the 10th that it would begin developing joint parts for humanoid robots.
Interest in humanoid robot-related stocks in China began to rise at the end of last month with the Lunar New Year Gala broadcast by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV). Unitree (宇樹科技)'s humanoid robot 'H1' performed a traditional dance from northern China alongside 16 dancers. H1 flawlessly executed difficult movements such as spinning and catching a handkerchief. YouTube channel 'South China Morning Post'
Among these, humanoid robots have recently become the hottest keyword in the Chinese stock market. Changsheng Bearing (長盛軸承) started a rapid rise from the 6th and increased by more than 100% by the 21st. This company manufactures bearings that make humanoid robot joints move smoothly. Additionally, robot software specialist Xinsida (新時達) recorded five consecutive daily upper limits, and the stock price of Shengtong Printing Co., Ltd. (盛通印刷股?有限公司), which has a humanoid robot subsidiary, rose nearly 70% over about a month.
The attention to humanoid robot-related stocks in China began at the end of last month with the Lunar New Year Gala broadcast by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV). Unitree (宇樹科技)’s humanoid robot 'H1' performed a traditional dance from northern China alongside 16 dancers. H1 flawlessly executed difficult moves such as twirling and catching a handkerchief. This showcased that China’s humanoid robot technology has reached a high level, and the perception that related products will soon be widely available attracted global attention. However, since the growth of the humanoid robot industry is just beginning, securities analysts acknowledge that the outlook for companies is bright but warn that the current rapid stock price surge is irrational. They have cautioned investors directly about the risks involved.
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