Yiyou Technology Launches World’s First Automated Robotic Joint Production Line in Shanghai, Accelerating Humanoid Robot Mass Production

In a significant development for the robotics industry, Yiyou Technology has launched the world’s first automated production line for robotic joints in Shanghai Zhangjiang. This milestone marks a pivotal advancement for China’s embodied intelligence sector, transitioning from technological research to large-scale manufacturing and paving the way for mass production of humanoid robot components.

The inauguration of this production line was attended by local leaders from Pudong New District and industry experts, who witnessed firsthand how this facility addresses the key bottleneck in the large-scale application of humanoid robots. As the “heart” of the robotic power system, the performance of integrated joints directly influences the overall machine’s capabilities. The manufacturing precision required is at the micrometer level, with a stability requirement of thousands of hours of continuous operation without failure, while production costs account for nearly 50% of the total price of humanoid robots.

Since its project initiation in 2023, Yiyou Technology has invested over 300 million yuan in research and development, successfully overcoming 12 critical technologies, including the integration of harmonic reducers and drive motors. By 2025, the company expects to achieve an industry record with an annual delivery of 95,000 sets of joint modules.

The automated production line spans 200 meters and features a modular design, incorporating eight core processes such as assembly, testing, and calibration. The line employs 30 six-axis robots working in tandem with a vision-guided system to facilitate a fully automated process from part feeding to finished product delivery. A specially designed dual-position calibration platform enhances joint angle calibration accuracy to ±0.01 degrees, which is three times better than traditional methods.

Equipped with an AI quality inspection system, the production line can detect assembly deviations as small as 0.02 millimeters, ensuring that each set of joints meets aerospace-grade standards. In terms of efficiency, the line produces a complete joint module every 72 seconds, which is a 15-fold increase compared to manual assembly. Furthermore, the optimization of material flow has reduced the production cycle from 48 hours to just 8 hours. More importantly, the digital process control has led to a first-pass yield rate exceeding 95%, resulting in a 42% reduction in the manufacturing cost of each joint.

This “dual improvement” model provides a stable and reliable supply chain for downstream manufacturers. The strategic choice to locate the production line in Zhangjiang Robot Valley is significant. This 3.2 square kilometer industrial cluster has attracted over 60 upstream and downstream robotics companies, forming a complete ecosystem that spans from chip design to application scenarios.

Yiyou Technology has established a three-tier system for “R&D – pilot testing – mass production,” allowing for rapid responses to customer demand changes. The newly built 20,000 square meter intelligent factory has reserved space for the expansion of five additional production lines, with plans to achieve an annual production capacity of 1 million sets of joint modules by 2027.

The launch of this production line comes at a crucial time, as the national “14th Five-Year Plan” designates embodied intelligence as a strategic emerging industry. The humanoid robot market is projected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2028. By breaking through mass production technology, Yiyou Technology not only solidifies its leading position in the joint sector but also builds a comprehensive value chain for China’s robotics industry. As experts at the event noted, “When the core components are no longer constrained by production capacity, the day when humanoid robots enter households will not be far off.”