Published on: July 25, 2025 / update from: July 25, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Walker S2 from Ubtech: This robot changes its battery itself in 3 minutes and simply continues – Image: Xpert.digital
New robot technology: 24/7 workers without a break
Intelligent machines: the Walker S2 and the end of human layers
In the world of robotics, it was a central promise for a long time and one of the greatest hurdles: the creation of a really autonomous, tireless helper that can work around the clock without long breaks. With the Walker S2 from the Chinese manufacturer Ubtech, this vision moves within reach. This humanoid robot redefines the limits of the possible by solving a fundamental problem of mobile robotics in an elegant way: the limited battery life.
The decisive feature that lifts the Walker S2 from competitors such as Teslas Optimus or Figures Figure 01 is its ability to fully automatic cordless hot swap. Instead of remaining on a charging station for 90 minutes, the robot navigates independently into a exchange station and replaces its empty battery against a full in under three minutes. This process enables an almost uninterrupted 24/7 operation and catapults the efficiency in intelligent production and logistics to a new level.
But the Walker S2 is much more than just a clever energy management. With 52 degrees of freedom, highly sensitive gripping hands, a payload of 15 kg and a dual AI system, which coordinates both individual and blackmintelligence, it is designed for complex, human-like tasks. It is not just another prototype, but a series -ready industrial model that is already being tested in automotive production.
The Walker S2 from the Chinese manufacturer UbTech Robotics is the first humanoid robot that can exchange its battery within three minutes without switching off or that a 24/7 operation is theoretically possible. With 52 degrees of freedom, a dual 48-volt lithium battery, 15 kg of payload and a Ki double system made of Brainnet 2.0 and co-agent, it marks a milestone for intelligent production, logistics and services.
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Genesis of the project
Who is UbTech Robotics and how did the Walker program come about?
UbTech Robotics was founded in Shenzhen in 2012 and is now one of the leading Chinese manufacturers of humanoid service robots. The company has been developing the Walker series since 2018. After Walker 1.0 and Walker S1, the Walker S pilot series followed in 2024, whose test fleets in Zeekr automobile works took over the first production tasks. Walker S2 was presented as a full industrial series model in 2025 and builds on these experiences.
What distinguishes Walker S2 from the predecessors?
In addition to the autonomous change of battery, Walker S2 received:
- A completely bionic 52-Dof body skeleton,
- Gen-4-dexterous handles with 11 DOF per hand and 7.5 kg finger-single load,
- a hip for far -spacious manipulation, a ± 162 ° rotating hip,
- The dual loop AI system (Brainnet 2.0 + Co-agent) for the coupling of individual and swarm autonomy,
- Pure RGB Stereo camera eyes (instead of RGB-D sensors) for deeper integrated perception with less hardware overhead.
Technical specifications
The robot has impressive technical specifications that underline its performance and flexibility. Its height varies between 1.62 and 1.76 meters, depending on the selected configuration. With a weight of 43 kilograms and 52 degrees of freedom, it offers high mobility. The fourth generation hand system is particularly remarkable, with 11 degrees of freedom per hand and a payload of 15 kilograms per arm.
The energy supply takes place via two 48 V lithium-ion batteries, which enable a term of two hours when walking and four hours while standing. The batteries can be completely loaded in just 90 minutes, and an exchange of battery only takes three minutes. At maximum speed, the robot can cover up to 2 meters per second. Communication is via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which ensures flexible control and data transmission.
Energy management
How does the double battery system work?
Two 48-Volt modules deliver electricity in parallel. In the event of critical residual capacity, energy management initiates a battery art loop. While battery is active, battery B is removed and replaced. The supply remains stable due to seamless switching.
Why is 90 min loading time necessary despite the quick charging technology?
The chemistry of the 48 V lithium packs reaches thermal limits quickly at higher load rate. UbTech accepts 90 min because the exchange process decouples the charging; Several racks equalize.
Can the robot shop exchange?
Yes. The energy manager compares remaining energy δe with order energy supplies e_task. If δe> ε, he starts the task and plans later loading; Otherwise it will be exchanged.
End of the battery change
- Diagnosis reports <20% capacity.
- Robot navigates to the nearest rack via slam.
- Back to the rack, unlocking battery B.
- Arm gripper takes from battery B, puts it in a free slot.
- Griffer pulls fully charged battery C, introduces it in shaft.
- Locking and self-test test (<5 s).
- Return to the last working position.
- Total duration: ≈3 min with unimagined power supply.
AI architecture
What does Brainnet 2.0 do?
Brainnet 2.0 is the cloud swarm brain, the task decay, fleet scheduling and scenario database. It allows hundreds of walking units, relative positions, tool assignments and queues to coordinate in real time.
What does co-agent stand for?
Co-agent is an edge agent per robot. He summarizes multimodal sensorism data, plans movements, calls out skills and introduces error reactions. Co-agent merges large multimodal model with smaller skill models to keep latency decisions locally.
How do both systems interlock?
Brainnet gives coarse orders (e.g. "Hole battery slot 3"); Co-agent generates movement primitive, checks collisions and closes control loops. In the event of loss, co-agent takes over until the network is back.
Sensorism and actuator
What senses does the Walker S2 have?
- Dual-RGB stereo vision with 1.5 m deep accuracy ± 6 mm;
- Four-microphone array for 360 ° speech recognition;
- 6-axis imu in torso and feet for gang stabilization;
- Power/moments sensors in wrists and fingertips;
- Temperature and voltage sensor in every battery pack.
Why RGB dual cameras instead of RGB-D?
Pure stereo lowers weight, power consumption and costs; Deep learning depth compensates for missing IR projection.
How robust are joints and hands?
Servoaktuators deliver 0.2 – 200 nm. Hip thirect drives hold 40,000 h MTBF. Finger mechanics survive 80,000 gripping cycles without loss of calibration.
Industrial fields
Which industries benefit immediately?
Industrial fields of application clearly show which industries benefit directly from modern automation solutions. In automotive assembly, PLC sorting and sealing mandate are typically carried out, the decisive advantage lying in the 24/7 clock. The electronics production mainly uses this technology for PCB handling and quality inspection and benefits from a sub-mm precision. Logistics hubs use the systems for cardboard picking and paletting, with a payload of 15 kg being reached. In the service sector you will find use in customer reception and the night watch, whereby the human -like appearance is the special advantage.
Are there real pilot projects?
Zeekr has been testing Walker-S predecessors in a 5G smart factory since 2024. Extended S2 pilots have been installed in BYD and NIO assembly lines since mid-2025.
Economic consideration
Which cost structure is emerging?
UbTech does not call list prices. Industry analysts appreciate $ 68,000 – $ 100,000 per unit at a small series. Through mass production, the price could fall to $ 50,000 as soon as an annual number of 10,000 could be achieved.
How does 24/7 availability affect ROI?
With 98% availability through 3-minute exchange breaks, the fixed hours of hours drop drastically. Example: A robot that is productive 8.600 h annually, amortized investments within <3 years with an assumed saving of $ 8/h.
Security and regulatory situation
What norms does Walker S2 meet?
- ISO 10218-1 for industrial robots (mechanical security),
- ISO/TS 15066 for human-robot collaboration (force limits),
- China Guidelines 2024 for autonomous robots (emergency stop button in the torso).
What are redundancies?
Each battery is monitored by separate BMS units; Dual batteries allow hot swap in the event of a module failure. If the battery is not locked correctly, the system stops all joints in <200 ms.
Social and ethical questions
Is Walker S2 displaced human jobs?
Economic studies expect that around 23% manual work work could be replaced by humanoid robotics by 2030. At the same time, new roles are created in maintenance, data analysis and system integration. The net impact depends on retraining investments.
What about data protection in public spaces?
The head cameras only save video streams internally; Edge inference reduces cloud uploads. Nevertheless, lawyers require clear disclosure obligations for operations in hotels or malls.
Is there a risk of dependency?
Fabrits with 100% humanoid staff risk monocultures. UbTech recommends hybrid teams from cobots, Amrs and humanoids to keep redundancy.
Competitive analysis
In July 2025, the competitive analysis of autonomous humanoid robots shows an interesting developmental landscape. Ubtech's Walker S2 stands out, because he is the only series model that dominates the innovative hot swap battery technology. With a payload of 15 kg, it is already in the pilot series.
The competition is different in development: Tesla's Optimus and Figure's Figure 01 are prototype or in beta tests, both with a payload of 20 kg. UniTreree's G1 is already available for less than $ 20,000, but only bears 10 kg. Boston Dynamics' Atlas NG remains in the research and development phase and offers a payload of 25 kg.
The Walker S2 is currently the only model with the ability to change the battery, which currently emphasizes it in the development of humanoid robots.
What further developments have been announced?
Ubtech plans:
- Walker S Lite for logistics with a height of 1.4 m and simplified battery tray;
- Fast load chemistry that strives for 60 minutes of loading time;
- Integration of 5G-Redcap modems for latency armed swarm coordination;
- Brainnet 3.0 with self-organizing task graphs (2026 roadmap).
Is a universal battery standard conceivable?
Ubtech lobby for a QSFP-like mechanical connector that is supposed to fit over the manufacturer. Talks with Tesla and Nio run according to industry insiders.
Humanoid systems: new standards for availability and performance
The Walker S2 combines humanoid freedom of movement with energy-autonomous hot swap technology and cloud-based swarm ki. It reduces downtime from 90 min to 3 min, increases availability to over 98% and thus opens up a new scale for 24/7 operating models in production, logistics and service.
Technical hurdles such as battery wear, gripping and regulatory framework remain, but the speed of innovation shows: Humanoid robotics are faced with industrial breakthrough. It will be crucial how business, politics and society convert the resulting efficiency gains into sustainable employment and educational models.
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