This humanoid robot also incorporates Tesla's ( TSLA.US ) AI technology , namely autonomous driving technology based on the predictive capabilities of the visual neural network system, and the DOJO D1 supercomputer chip with extremely strong computing power.
Image source: Tesla
It's important to know that the Tesla Bot wasn't the first humanoid robot. Since Honda released the first humanoid robot prototype, AI SMO, in the early 21st century, numerous technology companies and universities worldwide have released humanoid robots. Among the more well-known are Boston Scientific's ( BSX.US ) Atlas robot, the European iC UB, SoftBank's Pepper, Alderbran's Nao robot, and UBTECH's Walker series.
Image source: Minsheng Securities
The humanoid robot market has a large potential, broad downstream applications, and is growing rapidly. According to data from Stratistics Market Research Consulting, the global humanoid robot market was estimated at $560 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $14.1 billion by 2027, representing a CAGR of 58.5%. The Chinese humanoid robot market is expected to reach $2.3 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 56.4%.
Image source: Stratistics Market Research Consulting
· Servo motors are the drive devices for robot joints.
A robot's joint actuators rely heavily on servo systems . The more joints a robot has, the greater its flexibility and precision, and the more servo motors are required. Servo motors influence the robot's arm control, such as position, angle, and linear motion; differences in their performance directly impact the robot's capabilities.
Referring to industrial robots , most joints of humanoid robots may employ servo systems . A servo system mainly consists of three parts: servo motors, servo drivers , and command devices .
· A servo motor is an actuator that converts voltage signals into motor torque and speed.
· Servo drives are used to control servo motors, and their function is similar to that of frequency converters for ordinary AC motors. They generally control servo motors through three methods: position, speed, and torque, and belong to high-end products in transmission technology.
· The command device sends pulses or provides speed signals to ensure the driver functions properly.
The Chinese servo system market is mainly divided into three camps: Japanese and Korean brands , European and American brands, and Chinese brands. Due to the high level of technology required, the servo system market has always been dominated by foreign brands.
• First Tier: High-end servo motors are mainly used in precision industrial instruments, robots, and military fields, which require high precision in equipment. This level is basically monopolized by leading overseas companies from Germany and Japan.
· The second tier: China's leading servo motor companies are mainly in the second tier. Although the industry's technology level has been continuously improving in recent years due to China's continuous investment in this field, there is still a certain gap between them and the leading overseas companies. Apart from the leading Chinese companies, some well-known overseas companies are also in the second tier.
· The third tier consists mainly of companies that produce low- to mid-range products, primarily Chinese domestic small and medium-sized brands.
Image source: Foresight
In the first half of 2021, among Chinese brands, Inovance Technology ranked first in market share for the first time, with a market share of 15.9%. Other companies with high market share rankings included Mitsubishi, Yaskawa, and Panasonic . In addition, Delta Electronics (Taiwan) and Siemens ( AD R.US ) (Germany) also had high market share in the optical instrument field.
Image source: Minsheng Securities
In terms of business layout, among the listed companies in the servo motor industry, Inovance Technology is the leading servo motor manufacturer in China, with the widest business layout. Its servo motor technology and industry are also at the leading level in China. Its main competitors are well-known foreign brands.
Image source: Internet
Overall, in the future, with the deepening of the industrial robot industry, the further improvement of industrial automation , and the in-depth promotion of intelligent manufacturing, the servo system market will experience a new round of rapid growth. In particular, with the continuous improvement of the R&D level of domestic servo technology, the pace of import substitution of servo systems in China will accelerate, and the rise of domestic brands in the servo system market will become increasingly apparent.
