China targets 100 key humanoid robot standards by 2028

August 26, 2026 (MLN): China plans to formulate at least 100 key standards for its rapidly expanding humanoid robot industry by 2028, under a draft guideline released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The proposed framework, which is open for public consultation from August 25 to September 23, seeks to establish a comprehensive and coordinated national standards system to support technological development, product innovation and the large-scale deployment of humanoid robots.

The draft covers a wide range of areas, including capability testing and assessment, core technologies, platforms and systems, application scenarios, safety governance, and ethical and social-impact considerations, as reported by APP.

By 2028, China aims to build a systematic and science-based standards framework, with more than 200 companies expected to participate in promoting and implementing the proposed standards.

Under the draft, humanoid robots are described as a new generation of AI-powered intelligent terminals featuring human-like forms and capabilities, capable of independently carrying out complex tasks.

The rapid advancement of the sector has increased the need for common rules governing terminology, technical interfaces, testing and evaluation, which the MIIT believes are essential for guiding innovation, product development and wider commercial adoption.

More than 100 humanoid robot-related standards are already under development or at the preliminary research stage in China and internationally.

The proposed framework also calls for standardized methodologies to classify and assess humanoid robot capabilities, along with unified rules for unique identifiers, coding systems and identification mechanisms.

For industrial use, the standards would establish requirements related to operational performance and environmental adaptability, particularly for robots operating in structured and semi-structured workplaces.

The move comes amid broader efforts by China to accelerate the real-world adoption of humanoid robots. In June, the MIIT and China's state assets regulator launched an initiative aimed at validating robot applications and achieving regular deployment in representative scenarios by the end of 2026, while also building the capacity for deployment at a scale of 10,000 units.

The MIIT said in a July 20 briefing that China had developed more than 400 humanoid robot models, accounting for more than half of the global total.

The draft also addresses practical challenges associated with industrial deployment, where common technical interfaces and robust safety requirements are increasingly important.

Factors such as dust, reflections, prolonged operation, heat management and component durability can significantly affect robot performance in real-world environments.

In addition to technical and industrial requirements, the proposed standards system would introduce guidelines for ethical considerations and social-impact assessments, placing safety and responsible development alongside technological performance and commercial expansion.

According to the draft, the national standards framework will follow the principles of comprehensive development, prioritizing urgent industry needs and allowing for continuous updates as humanoid robot technology evolves.

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