Humanoid Robots Start Entering China's Car Production Line, SAIC Installed at Battery Factory

JAKARTA - China has started using humanoid robots to mass-produce cars. According to a China Daily report, SAIC Motor has officially placed a humanoid robot in the shape of a smart robot in its electric vehicle battery production line. This is said to be the first in the Chinese automotive industry.

The robot is named Nengzai No 1. He started working on the mass production line of batteries for the Buick Electra E7 of the electric vehicle division of SAIC Motor. This step shows that the Shanghai-based car manufacturer is beginning to incorporate intelligent technology in the form of its factory automation system.

China Daily, quoted Tuesday, March 31, said the robot was jointly developed by SAIC General Motors Co Ltd and Shanghai-based technology company AgiBot. This collaboration is said to combine the smart manufacturing needs of large automotive companies with technological breakthroughs from companies that are engaged in tangible intelligence.

The entry of humanoid robots into the production line is not merely a demonstration of technology. SAIC assesses that this implementation can be an example that can be imitated and expanded in the automotive industry, especially to measure how far humanoid robots can be used in mass production.

The focus is initially on the battery pack manufacturing process. According to SAIC Motor, the use of humanoid robots at this stage is expected to reduce risks in electrical work that has been handled by skilled human labor. At the same time, this robot is also positioned to close the weaknesses of conventional industrial robots that require large workspaces, but are not flexible enough to handle certain tasks.

For SAIC, the use of humanoid robots in the battery line is not just about automation. The company assesses that these robots can be used for jobs that are risky for skilled workers, while closing the limitations of ordinary industrial robots that are less flexible and need a large workspace.

If this implementation is successful, the impact will not only be on SAIC. Still according to China Daily, this model could be a new foothold for China's automotive industry in expanding the use of humanoid robots in mass production lines.