3 6 Ke·2026-01-27 05:55Core Insights - The humanoid robot industry in 2025 faced a dual challenge of significant investment and numerous company failures, highlighting a stark divide between leading and struggling firms [1] - The industry is undergoing a brutal elimination process, with many once-prominent companies collapsing as the gap between technological enthusiasm and commercial viability becomes evident [1] Industry Overview - In 2025, the humanoid robot sector saw 610 financing events, nearly tripling from the previous year, with total funding exceeding 57 billion yuan [9] - The industry is experiencing deep differentiation, with leading companies receiving continuous capital support while struggling firms face accelerated elimination [10] Company Failures - K-Scale Labs, a notable startup, collapsed just before mass production due to cash flow issues, revealing the lack of a complete local supply chain for many U.S. startups [2] - Rethink Robotics, once a pioneer in collaborative robots, faced its second bankruptcy in 2025 after failing to meet market demands and losing investor support [3] - The closure of Embodied, which produced a social robot for children, exemplified the vulnerabilities of cloud-dependent products [4] - iRobot, the maker of Roomba, filed for bankruptcy in December 2025, suffering from prolonged financial struggles and competition from lower-priced Chinese products [4] Challenges Faced by Companies - Many humanoid robot companies are hindered by financing shortages, with K-Scale Labs having only $400,000 left at the time of its closure [6] - Over 50% of humanoid robot "commercial" orders are primarily for public relations and data collection rather than genuine productivity replacement [7] - Product homogeneity has led to a competitive landscape where many companies are engaged in a war of attrition, focusing on low-barrier applications [7] - Insufficient technological reserves have left companies like Rethink Robotics and iRobot unable to compete effectively against more advanced competitors [8] Future Outlook - The survival of companies in the humanoid robot sector will depend on securing ongoing financing and achieving repeat orders in industrial applications [10] - The customer base is shifting from academic institutions to industrial enterprises, which demand higher reliability and economic viability [10] - Companies must differentiate themselves, establish genuine commercial cycles, and leverage data to enhance AI models for future success [11] - The industry is expected to see a significant increase in humanoid robot shipments in 2026, with estimates ranging from 30,000 to over 50,000 units, contingent on technological advancements [10]