China is set to deploy humanoid robots for border patrol and inspection duties along its frontier with Vietnam, marking a major step in the real-world use of artificial intelligence in public security and border management.
Shenzhen-based UBTECH Robotics Corp. has secured a $37 million contract to deploy its Walker S2 humanoid robots at the Fangchenggang border crossing in Guangxi, a busy transit hub linking China and Vietnam. Deployment is expected to begin this month, with authorities viewing the location as an ideal testing ground due to its heavy flow of cargo trucks, buses and daily travellers.
The Walker S2 is a full-size humanoid robot equipped with jointed legs, arms and torso, designed to operate in environments built for humans. It features autonomous battery-swapping technology, allowing it to replace power packs without human assistance and operate with minimal downtime.
At the border post, the robots will assist officials by guiding passenger queues, directing vehicles and responding to basic traveller enquiries. Some units will patrol corridors and waiting areas, monitoring crowd movement and potential security concerns, while others will support cargo inspections by checking container identification numbers and seal integrity.
Beyond border duties, some of the robots are expected to be deployed in nearby industrial facilities, inspecting steel, copper and aluminium plants by walking predefined routes in high-temperature environments. The project builds on UBTECH’s earlier deployments of humanoid robots in factories and data centres across China.
The Fangchenggang deployment aligns with China’s broader policy push to position humanoid robotics as a strategic sector. Authorities are expected to closely monitor safety, reliability and accountability during the trial as China accelerates efforts to commercialise and standardise humanoid robot use nationwide.
