Robots have become a critical indicator of a nation’s innovation capability and industrial competitiveness, serving as a strategic entry point for the next wave of global technological and industrial transformation. According to the 2020 China Service Robot Industry Development Report released by EqualOcean, China’s service robot industry has grown faster than the global average over the past five years, capturing more than 25% of the global market share. With a strong industrial ecosystem and a complete supply chain, China is on track to become a global leader in the service robotics sector.

A Rapidly Expanding Market

In 2019, China’s service robot market reached approximately USD 2.2 billion, accounting for a quarter of the global market, according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). This number is projected to grow to 30% in the coming years. From 2015 to 2019, China’s service robot sales consistently outpaced both global averages and the growth rate of industrial robot sales within China itself, reflecting robust momentum.

Unlike in the industrial robot segment where China has long been a follower, in the service robot field, China has established global competitiveness through advantages in scale, manufacturing, and technological development. The country is poised to lead the global development of the service robot industry.

Home Service Robots: Dominating the Market

Among various applications, home service robots have taken the lead in market share, valued at $1.05 billion, or 47.7% of the total. This segment includes cleaning robots, companion robots, and educational robots. Cleaning robots have achieved widespread adoption in China, although penetration still lags behind that of developed countries, indicating significant room for growth. Educational and entertainment robots for children have also emerged, though their interaction and personalization capabilities still need technological improvements to reach mass-market appeal.

Medical Robots: A Fast-Rising Segment

The integration of AI into healthcare has boosted demand for smarter medical services, giving rise to several categories of medical robots: surgical, rehabilitation, auxiliary, and logistics robots. Rehabilitation robots currently lead the sector due to wide application scope and policy support. Auxiliary robots are growing fast, especially in elderly care and community services. Although surgical robots face adoption challenges due to high costs, they remain a vital area for long-term growth. Logistics robots, with relatively lower complexity and cost, continue expanding into new scenarios.

Public Service Robots: Broadening Use Cases

Public service robots are widely used in restaurants, hotels, banks, and entertainment venues. Major applications include reception robots, last-mile delivery robots, and smart security robots. During the pandemic, autonomous delivery vehicles and drones gained attention for solving last-mile delivery challenges. As AI, 5G, and facial recognition technologies advance, smart security robots are finding applications in industrial inspections, building surveillance, emergency response, and anti-terrorism efforts.

A Strong Industrial Chain Backed by Core Technologies

China’s service robot industry comprises three key segments: foundational hardware, system integration and manufacturing, and end-user applications. The development of core technologies underpins the entire ecosystem.

• Environmental Perception: Robots rely on sensors to simulate human senses—vision, hearing, and touch. LiDAR has emerged as a central component in environmental sensing systems.
• Motion Control: This technology ensures stable robot operations, with SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) being vital for navigation and interaction. Laser SLAM is currently the dominant technology, though multi-sensor SLAM is the emerging trend.
• Human-Machine Interaction (HMI): Voice interaction is the most mature method in HMI, with leading Chinese providers like iFlytek, Unisound, and AISpeech driving innovation.
• Operating Systems: Most robots in China operate on Android or ROS. While China’s indigenous operating systems are still developing, many companies build customized frameworks atop global open-source platforms.
• Chips: Chips used in robots range from general-purpose to AI-specific processors. While general-purpose chip development lags behind, China has made significant strides in AI chip technology, potentially reshaping the global robotics ecosystem.

Future Outlook: From Scale to Leadership

Driven by national strategies, policy incentives, and rapid industrial development, China’s service robotics sector is entering a golden age of opportunity. However, challenges remain—chief among them are breakthroughs in key technologies, innovation in applications, and coordinated industry integration.

With strong momentum and clear direction, China is well-positioned to transition from a fast follower to a true global leader in the service robot era.