The World Robot Conference - featuring the World Humanoid Robot Games - have been underway in China this month, with their logistics and warehousing capabilities on full display revealing a marked evolution from proof-of-concept to increasing real-world deployments.

More than 3,000 products were on display with more than 30% of those coming from overseas developers.

Chinese state-owned media outlet Xinhua reports that robotics company UBTECH hosted a demonstration at the event, where 10 humanoid robots worked together “in a coordinated workflow, with some lifting and stacking boxes and others sorting goods along an assembly line”. 

“Together, they demonstrated a complete smart logistics process - from materials handling to sorting and replenishment,” Xinhua states.

Chinese company Galaxea had a stand at the event where visitors were able to scan a QR code for a bottle of water.

“A robot autonomously navigated through the warehouse to fetch and package the water in just over one minute, relying solely on model-based recognition,” Xinhua describes the process. “This system is already up and running in Beijing and other cities.”

Hong Kong’s Robotera showcased its advanced embodied AI and humanoid lineup, including its flagship L7 bipedal humanoid and XHAND1 dexterous hand which have been deployed at China Post and SF Express facilities.

Xu Xiaolan, chairwoman of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, said at the 2026 WRC, nearly 10 major automakers, including BYD and SAIC, are already testing embodied-intelligence systems on production lines for tasks like materials handling and parts loading.

The Global Robotics Application Exploration Program was also launched at the event, organisers state, which called on leading global robotics enterprises to submit mass-produced products such as humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and dexterous hands. 

The products are then matched with innovation teams globally for free trials which enables exploration of real-world applications and has the aim of accelerating the transition of cutting-edge technologies into wider markets.

Liu Weiliang, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, was quoted by the World Internet Conference (WIC) as saying the ultimate goal of some of the events is to help companies receive orders through competition and take on jobs after the games.

“Unlike traditional robotics contests that focus on isolated movements, the scenario-based events were designed after consultations with end users in sectors including retail, hospitality, education, manufacturing and emergency response,” the WIC states. 

“The competitions assess whether robots can complete full workflows in complex environments, requiring integrated perception, decision-making and manipulation abilities.”

Xinhua states that across China, more than 70 embodied-intelligence training grounds had been built, with another 46 under construction or in the planning stages.