I worked almost all my professional life on the bleeding edge of robotics innovation in the United States. Never before have I seen another country so quickly.
In the period of recent years, China has overtaken the US as the leader in the robotics race, especially when it comes to Humanoid Robots Designed to imitate the human body and behavior. Earlier this year literally China Raced robots Against human counterparts, and they do not show any signs of delay.
While AI is stealing the investment and media flexes, competition for supremacy of humanoid robotics has been quietly speeding up for 50 years, and we are now about a memorable breakthrough. Mass-produced humanoid robots can reach us in the next 3-5 years, and the market is predicted $ 38 billion within just 10 years.
China is ready to catch the lion’s share of this industry: Morgan Stanley has discovered that 56% of robotics companies have already been established there. However, this competition is not only about market share – it is about industrial supremacy.
Solid industrial robots now work with estimated productivity rates 10 times those of peopleAlmost 24/7 work with virtually no errors. In this new era of freely moving humanoid robots, adaptable machines will navigate entire factory floors with equal precision and even higher productivity rates than their fixed (and human) counterparts.
American companies like it Boston Dynamics Build impressive prototypes, but they do not win industrial wars, the production does. If the US lags behind in the robotic race, American companies will be confronted with an increased supply chain dependence from China and citizens can see wage stagnation and job losses to robotics leaders abroad.
I witnessed the US that led the world in robot -like progress. Two of my humanoid robots went into space; One called “Robonaut” now lives in the Smithsonian. Ons Momentum has been delayed in the past decade. To take back the supremacy of robotics, the US must overcome four critical obstacles that could cost us this race.
Why the US is not ‘all-in’ on humanoids
Yes, Chinese robotics startups benefit from Established supply chainsLocal adoption opportunities and strong national government support, but nagging domestic problems stop the United States, regardless of the progress of another country.
First, we fight against our own cultural fears. There is a prevailing fear that robots will do Replace human jobsEspecially in factories. Although mass change in production is rapidly approaching, the fear of replacement is not only wrong – it is counterproductive. Humanoid robots excel in “dirty, dark and dangerous” jobs that often have no willing human labor.
To overcome American cultural fears around robotics, we should think of robots that are not in our place, but stand by our side. WWII was won so much on the Mechanized production floor As on the battlefield and new machines were essential for winning the space trace. When Robonaut shook his hand with a colleague astronaut on board the international space station, it was proof that robots could and should support human work, cannot compete with it.
Secondly, we do not cultivate the people behind the humanoids. The real challenge in winning the humanoid race is not a job displacement; It is the enormous lack of competent household staff to develop, operate and retain advanced robotics. At Texas A&M I learn brilliant students ready to tackle Real-World problems with robots. Training the workforce about the use of robots will remove the next generation and fear. In the entire country, however, The preparation for a career in voice is missing. We now need more accessible science programs, student places and paths to robotics.
Thirdly, the economy still intimidates us. Developing humanoid robots precedes considerable costs and is still becoming faces Expensive technical obstaclesIncluding improving spatial awareness and task adjustment. But this is what the counters of the beans miss: as soon as mass production starts, the costs of robot work can fall from $ 10 to just $ 0.25 per hour In just 10 years. The industry will transform at night and which country arranges this shift has the future of production. Focus on the future affordability of robot work will encourage both private and public sector to invest now.
Fourth, our policy framework is lagging behind. While the US offers some stimuli for research and innovation, they fade compared to the use of China. The Chinese government has passed $ 20 billion in robotics And technologies from the next generation, providing subsidies for startups and covering costs for equipment and talent acquisition. They are expected Match our robotics research and development level By 2034.
In the meantime, Current American tax code continues to discourage innovation projects in the longer term by force companies to pay more in advance for R&D. As the American federal government is increasingly overlaps his ambitions With AI technology companies, it must also defend the development of humanoid robots as a necessary safety and productivity.
How America can take the lead again
In combination with overcoming these inherent challenges, the US must seize two unique opportunities that offer a high efficiency on investments and a clear path to victory.
Humanoid robots can keep our advantage in advanced production. Humanoids Integrated with AI And embedded in the internet of things will create smart factories that improve precision, improve product quality and speed up production times. The US is currently leading the world in the Development of Slim Textile- Humanoid – robots can speed up production to maintain this benefit.
Warehouses offer an arena for rapid adoption of humanoids. The number of warehouses in the US continues to expand, with Amazon recently announcement Plans for dozens more in rural areas. Our extensive network of warehouses is ready for humanoid robots to bring about a revolution in its activities by automating sorting, packaging and transporting alongside people to increase the efficiency and coverage of costs.
These are not theoretical applications: they are already being tested on sites such as BMW’s South Carolina -Fabriek, where robotics are partners deployed For logistics and storage tasks.
These implementations use our existing strengths in technology and innovation and at the same time meet the actual, immediate market needs. We don’t have to wait for the perfect humanoid robot – today we can dominate and build these sectors from there.
This race not just about machines; It is about maintaining American leadership in technology, safety and industrial strength. If we want the next generation of robotics to serve American interests, we must now act whether you are on the sidelines of the next industrial revolution.
During my two decades at NASA I saw what American innovators can reach when they got a mission. We sent robots to the moon, mars and in a job – not because it was easy, but because we believed it mattered for future generations. The same spirit must stimulate our investment in humanoid robotics today, so that we can first exceed the finish line tomorrow.
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