China plans to deploy UBTECH’s Walker S2 humanoid robots at the Fangchenggang border crossing in Guangxi, near Vietnam, to assist with inspections, patrols, and logistics operations. The $37 million contract marks a major step in the practical use of AI-driven machines in public security.
Deployment is expected to begin this month, with the robots operating alongside human officials at a busy transit point for cargo, buses, and day travellers.
Walker S2 robots are full-size humanoids equipped with jointed limbs, cameras, depth sensors, and force feedback to navigate human environments safely. At Fangchenggang, they will guide passenger queues, direct vehicles, answer basic questions, monitor corridors, and assist cargo teams by checking container seals and relaying updates. Their autonomous battery-swapping capability allows continuous operations with minimal downtime, enhancing efficiency in a high-traffic border environment.
The project builds on UBTECH’s earlier 2025 deployments in factories and data centres across China. The company highlighted the trial as proof of the “real-world value and accelerating commercialization of humanoid robots globally.”
Chinese authorities consider humanoid robotics a strategic sector, establishing standards, data training centres, and regulatory oversight to ensure safety and reliability during deployments like Fangchenggang.