The recently concluded FAIR PLUS 2025 exhibition (April 24–26) generated widespread buzz across the industry. Bringing together over 200 exhibitors and drawing more than 30,000 visitors over three days, the event was packed with energy and enthusiasm, highlighting the fact that the robotics industry is experiencing an unprecedented period of acceleration. As an attendee, the editor of China Exportsemi took a close look at the exhibition — from the atmosphere and types of exhibits to the emerging opportunities across the value chain — in an effort to sketch out some key contours of the robotics industry’s present and future.
1. Behind the Hype: Has the Robotics Industry Reached a True Inflection Point?
Judging by the atmosphere at FAIR PLUS 2025, it’s clear that the robotics sector is riding a powerful wave of momentum. However, unlike previous periods characterized mainly by hype or speculative investment, this surge is firmly grounded in technological reality. First, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence — particularly in large models, visual recognition, and motion control algorithms — have significantly enhanced robots’ capabilities in perception, decision-making, and execution. Second, continuous breakthroughs on the hardware side — such as the miniaturization of power systems, improvements in energy efficiency, and reductions in component costs — have made it feasible for robots to be deployed across a growing range of real-world scenarios. Against this backdrop, the robotics industry is shifting from "laboratory experiments" to "scalable products," attracting intense attention from end users, investors, and policymakers alike.
Image: The bustling scene at FAIR PLUS 2025
2. A Closer Look: Three Main Categories of Robots on Display
On the exhibition floor, end-product manufacturers were undoubtedly the biggest draw. The showcased robots largely fell into three main categories, each with its own development trajectory and challenges:
Industrial and Logistics Robots: Primarily deployed in factories and warehouses, these robots excel at repetitive tasks such as handling, loading, and sorting. As manufacturers push for greater flexibility and automation, industrial and logistics robots remain the most mature and largest market segment.
Humanoid Robots Focused on Mobility: One of the hottest areas in recent years, this category includes iconic products like Boston Dynamics' Atlas, Unitree's H1, and Tesla’s Optimus. This year's exhibition featured several humanoid robots capable of running, jumping, and balancing. Although large-scale commercialization is still a way off, the symbolic significance is immense: enhanced mobility opens the door for robots to enter more complex, dynamic environments such as security patrols and disaster response.
Companion and Service Robots: Targeting homes, education, and eldercare, these robots emphasize emotional interaction and everyday companionship, relying heavily on soft capabilities like voice recognition, natural language processing, and emotion detection. With trends such as population aging and changing family structures, companion robots are seen as a promising sector, although users are increasingly demanding higher levels of "intelligence" from these devices.
Image: A variety of robots showcased at FAIR PLUS 2025
3. The Challenges for End-Product Manufacturers: From Demo to Commercial Product
Despite their dazzling presence at the show, end-product manufacturers face steep challenges in achieving real-world commercial success. First, the technical integration involved is extraordinarily complex. Building a usable robot requires the convergence of mechanical design, sensor fusion, motion planning, energy management, and AI decision-making — breakthroughs in a single area are not enough to deliver a compelling user experience. Second, there is a persistent tension between cost and pricing. Even with mature technology, companies must figure out how to bring robots to market at a price point that consumers or businesses are willing to accept, without compromising performance and reliability. Third, application deployment and market education are critical hurdles. Particularly for humanoid and companion robots, there is often a gap between user expectations and actual capabilities. Successfully establishing clear, early-stage value propositions — such as warehouse operations or hospital assistance — will be essential for manufacturers seeking early adoption.
4. Opportunities for Component Suppliers: Niche Markets Are Opening Up Fast
In contrast, component suppliers within the robotics value chain are entering a golden window of opportunity. Two parallel trends are shaping the market: localization (domestic substitution) and high-end technological upgrades. Core components such as servo motors, precision reducers, high-performance sensors, and advanced computing platforms are all poised for significant growth. Take high-precision sensors, for instance — industrial and humanoid robots increasingly demand superior force and position sensing capabilities, which traditional sensors can no longer adequately deliver. In terms of power systems, lightweight and high-efficiency drive modules are becoming the norm. Meanwhile, with the integration of large AI models, there’s a surging demand for on-device inference chips and edge computing platforms, presenting new opportunities for domestic semiconductor companies. Moreover, as different types of robots require adaptation to distinct environments — factories, outdoor spaces, homes — the value of customized component solutions is rising. This opens the door for small and medium-sized innovative companies to "leapfrog" and gain competitive advantage.
5. Reflections and Outlook: Robotics Is Entering Its "Second Curve"
Overall, FAIR PLUS 2025 showcased an industry transitioning from isolated breakthroughs toward systematic, large-scale deployment. This marks not only an inevitable step in the sector’s evolution but also the prelude to intensified competition and accelerated shakeouts. Looking ahead to the next two to three years, the editor of China Exportsemi believes several major trends will likely unfold:
Segmentation of End-User Applications: A shift from "broad and general" products to "narrow and specialized" solutions, with sectors like dedicated logistics robots, rehabilitation assistance robots, and security inspection robots expected to achieve scalable adoption first.
Systems Integration as a Core Barrier: Hardware innovation alone will no longer suffice — the ability to integrate hardware and software seamlessly across disciplines will become the decisive factor for market leadership.
Strengthening of Leading Component Suppliers: Companies with strong technological foundations and mass production capabilities will consolidate their dominance as the industry matures.
Acceleration of Ecosystem Collaboration: Standardization, interface compatibility, and data interoperability across the value chain will be key drivers for industry-wide progress.
Robots are truly moving into mainstream life and across every sector. We may well be standing at the threshold of a new era — witnessing the evolution of robots from mere tools to partners and collaborators in human society.
