[Inside China's Humanoid Ecosystem] ④Rapid Validation in the Pearl and Yangtze River Supply Chains... Tactile Sensing Commercialized in Just Four Years

Interview with Paxini Founder Nie Xiangru
Over 200 Billion Won in Cumulative External Investment... Unrivaled Tactile Sensors
"The Shovel for the Gold Rush" ? Serving Diverse Companies and Industries
Robots Trained and Advanced at the World

Editor's NoteAt school sports days in Shenzhen, China, it is not unusual to see parents bringing robots. Robots have become deeply integrated into daily life in China, to the point that the country even hosts a Robot Olympics. This scene is made possible by an ecosystem that allows for easy robot manufacturing. In Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen, it is possible to procure all the parts needed to assemble a robot in just one day. These robots are then deployed to factories and other sites, creating a virtuous cycle that boosts productivity. In contrast, in Korea, robots remain confined to research labs and prototypes, with the country struggling even to reach the starting line of industrialization. Asia Economy visited Shenzhen to shed light on the structure and speed of the humanoid robot ecosystem. As the world is already competing in commercialization, we examine the challenges Korea has missed and urgently seek strategies to avoid falling behind.

BYD, the world's leading electric vehicle company, invested 100 million yuan (19 billion won) in the Chinese robotics firm Paxini in April. While the investment amount may seem small relative to BYD's size, the significance is far from trivial. This is BYD's largest single investment in the field of "embodied intelligence," where artificial intelligence senses, acts, and learns through robotic hardware.

The core of embodied intelligence lies in tactile sensors. Currently, it is common for robots to perceive and recognize objects using cameras or visual sensors. However, for robots to interact more naturally in daily life, tactile capabilities are essential. The massive robot industry supply chain being built in China is now moving beyond quantitative growth toward greater precision and intelligence.

Nie Xiangru, co-founder of Fasini, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the company's headquarters in Shenzhen, China, on the 19th of last month. Photo by Park Jooni.

Paxini is developing sensory sensors for the "hand," a key component of robotic parts. Nie Xiangru, co-founder of Paxini, explained in an interview with Asia Economy at the company's Shenzhen headquarters on the 19th of last month, "Just as a craftsman's skill comes from their fingertips, robots need tactile senses," describing the motivation behind founding the company.

First Commercialization of '6D Tactile Sensor'... BYD's Largest Investment

Pasini's 'Multidimensional Tactile Robot Hand' DexH13. Provided by Pasini.

Operating Principle of Pasini's 'Multidimensional Tactile Sensor' PX-6AX GEN3. Provided by Pasini.

Founded in 2021, Paxini has focused on core technologies for multidimensional tactile sensing and embodied intelligence. At the time, tactile sensing was considered one of China's "35 industrial bottleneck technologies." After four years of intensive research since its founding, Paxini succeeded in commercializing a "6D Hall array-based multidimensional tactile sensor." The company's rapid progress was supported by its research foundation and the local ecosystem. The founding team, alumni of the Sugano Laboratory at Waseda University in Japan, independently developed a high-precision array-type multidimensional tactile sensor, breaking through a key bottleneck in China. The supply chain, with tens of thousands of parts suppliers concentrated in the Pearl River and Yangtze River deltas, enabled parts procurement in just one day, accelerating development. In addition, the unique characteristics of the Chinese market, with its broad base of demand and large-scale verification opportunities, further sped up commercialization.

The resulting sensor can measure more than 15 sensory dimensions, including 6-dimensional force, texture, temperature, and elasticity, enabling tactile perception similar to the human hand. At Paxini's headquarters, this technology could be experienced firsthand. When the reporter touched a sensor sample with a finger, the pressure intensity was visualized in real time on a screen, and the robotic hand immediately responded to the movement displayed on the monitor. The sensor distinguished between surfaces such as sand, fabric, and concrete, and demonstrated stable operation even in high and low temperature environments.

Pasin's "Multidimensional Tactile Sensor" detecting the pressure of the hand. Photo by Park Juni.

Pasini's 'Multidimensional Tactile Sensor' can operate stably in environments ranging from -0 to 50℃. Photo by Park Juni.

Pasini's "Multidimensional Tactile Sensor" can measure more than 15 sensory dimensions, including texture, temperature, elasticity, and 6-dimensional force. Photo by Park Juni.

Nie explained, "In industrial settings, detailed processes such as assembling and attaching items cannot always be judged by sight alone. You need to feel something to accurately determine the key factors." In fact, thanks to this technology, Paxini currently supplies about 200 robotic hands annually to China's home appliance and automobile production lines, precision manufacturing, and logistics warehouses.

The commercialization of tactile sensors has enabled Paxini to attract a series of external investments. Most recently, the company secured external funding totaling about 200 billion won. Following BYD's investment in April, Paxini completed a Series A round in May, joined by home appliance maker TCL and several venture capital firms, and another Series A round in June, raising about 1 billion yuan (193.3 billion won) in just four months. Nie noted, "The embodied intelligence industry faces challenges such as a lack of high-quality measured datasets and inconsistent data quality," but added, "The industry is growing rapidly, and investors see great potential." In addition to external investment, Paxini has invested about 2 billion yuan (380 billion won) of its own funds, with 60% (about 200 billion won) devoted to research and development (R&D). Nie said, "We expect to become profitable around next year," and added, "Rather than accumulating cash over the next 10 years, we plan to continue investing in development."

On the 19th of last month, a reporter experienced Pasini's 'Multidimensional Tactile Robot Hand' at Pasini's headquarters in Shenzhen, China. The photo shows the robot hand recognizing the movement of the hand. Photo by Junyi Park.

"Tactile Technology for Robots Is the Shovel for Digging Gold"

Nie Xiangru, co-founder of Fasini, explained to Asia Economy on the 19th of last month at the company's headquarters in Shenzhen, China, how their products are being utilized in industrial sites. Photo by Park Juni.

Paxini's R&D ultimately focuses on two main pillars. One is the sensor that enables tactile perception for robots, and the other is the robotic hand that allows this technology to be used in actual industrial settings. Nie said, "Paxini's role is to sell the shovels needed to dig for gold." While many companies already excel at making robot hardware, few supply tactile sensors.

Paxini's humanoid robots are specialized in hand and upper body technology, rather than using legs. Nie emphasized, "If you don't rely on hardware, the price also comes down." The price of tactile sensors has dropped from 20,000 dollars (27.6 million won) per unit in the past to just 500 dollars (690,000 won) now. The price of a humanoid robot is only about 30 to 40 million won. He confidently stated, "We are not worried about the cost of robots. With mass production, prices can go even lower."

Paxini's tactile sensors and hands are already being used for harvesting, sorting, and collecting tasks in agriculture. Their strength is that, even without a full-body robot, the technology can be adapted and applied to suit the specific needs of each site. Paxini is expanding its reach by supplying both standard and customized products to clients.

Vast Data Gathered by Thousands of Fingertips

The "Super EID Factory," Pasini's concretized intelligence data collection factory established in Hexi District, Tianjin City, China. Photo by Park Juni.

In June, Paxini established the world's largest robot learning data factory, the "Super EID Factory," in Hexi District, Tianjin City, China. Covering a site of 12,000 square meters, the facility produces about 200 million sets of complex data-video, audio, and tactile-annually through 150 collection devices. Nie said, "The important thing going forward is to enhance robots' learning abilities with this data. With sufficiently trained data, robots could be deployed directly to production lines at Samsung Electronics or Foxconn."

His ultimate goal is to collect data from sensors, hands, and robots deployed in the field and use it to train robots, thereby building customized robot models for each industry. Nie expressed his ambition: "I want to grow into a company that builds the infrastructure for the entire industry." Chinese robotics companies are already ahead in terms of scale, technology, and data accumulation, setting new standards for the industry.

At the 'Super EID Factory,' Pasini's concretized intelligence data collection plant established in Hexi District, Tianjin City, China, its products are undergoing data training. Photo by Park Juni.

Company Profile

Paxini Tech

- Chinese company specializing in robotic hand and tactile sensor technology

- Founded in 2021 in Shenzhen, China, by a team from Waseda University's Robotics Laboratory in Japan

- Developed and commercialized a 6D Hall array-based multidimensional tactile sensor since 2021

- Established the "Super EID Factory" data training base in Tianjin in June 2025