China has been teaching humanoid robots in its country’s decision-making rooms for years. Now they have been taken to a much more practical, albeit dystopian, location: their borders. The company UBTech Robotics has secured a 264 million yuan contract—approximately US$37 million—to deploy its Walker S2 humanoid robots at the border crossings of Fangchenggang, Guangxi, starting in December.
According to the company, the robots will manage the “flow of personnel,” carry out inspections, and handle logistics. Humanoid robots do not get tired—well, they do get tired, but they are capable of replacing their own depleted batteries themselves. The Walker S2 has a self-replaceable battery, so operating costs are negligible compared to the costs of providing shelter, rest, and food for a human at a border crossing where reaching the rest of civilization is a logistical feat.
New patrol borders
It looks like something out of the Fallout video game series. We can’t help but think of the Securitrons used by Mr. Robert House in New Vegas. A patrolman prowling the border 24 hours a day seems like something out of a movie. For now, the Walker S2 robots will be used for support tasks on the border with Vietnam.
Using humanoid robots for border management is not new in China.
Customs agencies were already using them, as were Chinese airports. This trend toward humanoid robots has created a high demand for vendor-independent fleet management software. This software has to cover programming, teleoperation (in this case, remote control by a human operator), and compliance reports across all brands.
A robot that manages its own energy can remain in service for a long time, which is crucial in places where they cannot stop to recharge their batteries. According to the company’s official website, the Walker S2 humanoid robot can change its own battery independently in just three minutes.
All it needs is a replacement option to be able to operate day and night. The use of humanoid robots shifts part of the work from constant supervision to planned maintenance. Now, safety checks will be much smoother and can be carried out clearly with a human in charge… even if remotely.
The Ultimate Humanoid Robot: Walker S2
This humanoid robot has proportions that remind us of ourselves.
It measures 176 cm, weighs 70 kg, and walks at a normal speed of 2 m/s. It has joints reminiscent of those of a human: a flexible waist with an angle and rotation similar to that of a human, ambidextrous hands that can carry up to 7.5 kg (with greater sensitivity for one kilogram), and sensors in each hand.
It has microphones, speakers, and can hold a real conversation. It is made of composite, aeronautical-grade aluminum alloy, and 3D-printed in its main casing.
China’s pilot, shareholders’ delight
Although the Walker S2 humanoid robot is only a frontier pilot, things are going very well for the man. In a press release, the robot manufacturer announced that it would begin mass production and shipping of its industrial humanoids. In 2025 alone, there has already been a surge in online orders for this humanoid.
For now, it seems that nations are going to move—or rather, transition—to hiring humanoid robots for jobs where the environment is constantly changing. Border crossings are busy, noisy, and can be exposed to weather conditions that would quickly take a toll on a flesh-and-blood human being. Although they are currently being used as labor in support tasks where humans can intervene, it seems that they will soon be given jobs with greater independent responsibility.
If you ever happen to feel like illegally entering China through the Vietnam border, now you know who—or what—will be there to whoop your ass!