At the 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing, 311 new products debuted
Robotics is no longer confined to laboratories — it is increasingly entering our lives, from factories and warehouses to hospitals and emergency services. But the real breakthrough lies not in individual machines, but in their ability to work together, share data and complement each other. WRC 2026 became exactly the platform where manufacturers, developers and end users gathered to take the next step: transforming robots from isolated devices into a unified ecosystem capable of tackling complex tasks in the real world.
WRC 2026, held from Wednesday to Sunday, attracted over 300 exhibitors from 26 countries, showcasing more than 3,000 products. The event brings together AI algorithm developers, 3D technology and battery suppliers, robot manufacturers and end users to foster collaboration and shorten R&D cycles.
Among the key novelties is a mobile robot carrier — essentially a mobile logistics base for robots. The vehicle cabin can carry humanoid robots, robotic dogs and drones, while onboard battery swap and maintenance stations provide computing power and communication for robots even in extreme off‑grid or no‑electricity conditions. The carrier is designed to transition robots from single operations to coordinated fleet missions. Zheng Gang, chairman of Fittbus Technology, said mass production of this vehicle is planned soon. "Mass production of the recently unveiled main robot is scheduled for the end of this year, with commercial use expected by June next year. It will initially be used for aviation rescue, firefighting and medical assistance," he said.
As robots become increasingly sophisticated, coordinating machines from different manufacturers has become a critical obstacle. At this year's conference, addressing this challenge became a central theme for many companies. SIASUN unveiled OneHub, a multi‑robot coordination system based on large language models. "We released the OneHub multi‑robot coordination system. It can coordinate different types of robots. We have seen three robots of two different types working together within one system, using large model technology," said Han Tianwen, Director of the SIASUN Artificial Intelligence Research Institute.
Transforming large models into physical actions requires vast amounts of real‑world data. Ensuring Tech, a Shenzhen‑based startup founded just a year ago, unveiled a multi‑dimensional tactile motion‑capture glove and a large‑area electronic skin capable of sensing approaching objects. "Our multi‑dimensional tactile motion‑capture glove can recognise not only normal and tangential force, but also the direction of strong force impacts. Its modular design reconstructs a skeletal model identical to the human hand, collecting more accurate contact data, rather than imposing a fixed skeleton on every user," said Hou Ningzhe, founder and CEO of Ensuring Tech.
The World Robot Conference is held annually in Beijing and has become one of the world's largest platforms for showcasing advances in robotics and artificial intelligence. In 2026, the number of exhibitors grew by 69% over the previous year, and the number of products on display exceeded 3,000. The conference covers a wide range of applications — from industrial manufacturing to service and rescue robots. Special attention this year was paid to the integration of different types of robots and collective control systems, reflecting a broader trend towards robotic fleets capable of operating in complex and dynamic environments.
As CCTV+ reports, WRC 2026 has once again confirmed China's status as a global leader in robotics. The debut of 311 new products, coordination systems for heterogeneous robots and innovative sensor technologies show that the industry is moving towards intelligent ecosystems where machines from different manufacturers work as a single unit. In the coming years, such solutions will find applications in logistics, healthcare, emergency services and many other fields, making robots not just tools but reliable partners for humans.
