UBTech Robotics, based in Shenzhen, has unveiled their humanoid Walker S2, claimed to be the first robot to autonomously replace its own battery pack and operate continuously, day and night, if replacement batteries are supplied. When its battery level sinks (after about two hours walking or four hours standing), Walker S2 walks to a charging station, removes the old battery, slots it into a recharger, inserts a fresh one, and resumes work within roughly three minutes, all without human help.
Standing about 162 cm tall (or 5 ft 3) and weighing around 43 kg, Walker S2 features 20 degrees of freedom in its limbs, Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and software that dynamically manages energy usage, choosing whether to swap or recharge based on task priority.
Most prior robots needed human intervention for battery changes or recharging. Walker S2 addresses this by using a dual‑battery system: while one module is in use, the other charges. The result, practically zero downtime for robots in factory or warehouse roles. UBTech has piloted earlier models in partnership with car manufacturers like Nio, BYD and Zeekr, with Walker S2 poised to bring fully autonomous presence to assembly lines.
While still in demonstration and prototype phase, Walker S2 signals a shift from novelty robot performances toward practical, reliable machines capable of unbroken service. UBTech hasn’t announced mass‑production timelines, but the implications for labour, automation and future work environments are clear.
