The article points out that with the advancement of commercial applications of humanoid robots, bearings, as the core of connection and transmission, are expected to see a continuous increase in market demand. The article introduces the types of bearings suitable for different parts of humanoid robots, such as reducers and motors. It also mentions that although the global bearing market is currently dominated by foreign-funded enterprises, domestic manufacturers have made continuous progress in technology and quality, with an increasing application proportion in new energy and other fields. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of improving domestic grinding machine technology for the bearing industry to move towards the high-end.

The Rising Demand Driven by Humanoid Robot Commercialization

As humanoid robots gradually enter commercial scenarios—ranging from service industries to industrial manufacturing—the demand for high-precision bearings has surged. Bearings serve as the "mechanical joints" of robots, enabling precise rotation, linear movement, and load-bearing in key components like reducers, motors, and screw mechanisms. For example:

• In reducers: Harmonic reducers require flexible bearings and crossed roller bearings to withstand high-frequency deformation; RV reducers rely on thin-walled angular contact ball bearings and tapered roller bearings for high rigidity; planetary reducers use needle roller bearings and deep groove ball bearings to handle high-speed radial loads.
• In linear actuators: Combinations of deep groove ball bearings and four-point contact ball bearings (e.g., in Tesla Optimus) ensure both radial support and bidirectional axial stiffness.
• In motors: Hollow cup motors for dexterous hands adopt deep groove ball bearings, while frameless torque motors (without built-in bearings) place higher demands on external bearing integration.

Domestic Manufacturers: Progress and Challenges

1. Technological Advancement and Market Penetration

Although global bearing giants like Japan's THK, NSK, and Germany's Schaeffler still dominate high-end markets (e.g., crossed roller bearings with over 30% price premiums compared to domestic products), Chinese enterprises have made breakthroughs:

• Product quality upgrade: Domestic bearings for new energy vehicles and industrial robots now meet international standards, with companies like Luoyang Hongyuan leading in crossed roller bearings and Guoyang Precision Machinery excelling in turntable bearings.
• Cost and customization advantages: Domestic manufacturers can provide tailored solutions at 30-50% lower costs than foreign counterparts, making them preferred by emerging robot startups.

2. Gaps and Key Bottlenecks

• High-end manufacturing equipment reliance: Core grinding machines for precision bearings (e.g., for thin-walled components and surface finishing) still depend on imports from Germany and Japan, limiting production consistency.
• Material and heat treatment technology: Premium bearing steels (e.g., high-purity chrome steel) and advanced heat treatment processes (to achieve uniform hardness and fatigue resistance) lag behind international levels.
• Intelligent and sensor-integrated bearings: Foreign firms have launched smart bearings with built-in temperature/pressure sensors, while domestic R&D in this field is still in the early stages.

The Critical Role of Grinding Machine Technology in High-end Transition

Grinding machines are the "heart" of bearing manufacturing, directly affecting key indicators like dimensional accuracy (up to 0.001mm), surface roughness, and geometric tolerance. Upgrading domestic grinding machine technology is essential:

1. Precision control systems: Developing CNC grinding machines with nanometer-level resolution to meet the requirements of miniature bearings (e.g., for robot joints with diameters <10mm).
2. Specialized processing solutions: Designing dedicated grinders for thin-walled bearings (to avoid deformation during machining) and multi-axis 联动 machines for complex curved surfaces.
3. Intelligent manufacturing integration: Combining grinding machines with AI quality inspection systems to realize real-time defect detection and process optimization.

Future Trends and Strategic Opportunities

• Market expansion: With humanoid robot shipments expected to grow at a CAGR of over 40% by 2030, the global robot bearing market may exceed $15 billion, with domestic brands aiming to capture 20-30% share.
• Technology roadmaps: Focus areas include:
  • Flexible bearings with higher fatigue life (e.g., using new composite materials);
  • Integrated bearing-reducer modules to save space;
  • Self-lubricating and maintenance-free bearings for harsh environments.
• Ecosystem collaboration: Strengthening industry-academia-research cooperation—from steel mills (material R&D) to grinder manufacturers (equipment innovation) to robot OEMs (application feedback)—to form a complete high-end bearing industry chain.

In conclusion, the humanoid robot wave presents domestic bearing enterprises with a rare opportunity to upgrade from "mass production" to "precision manufacturing." By addressing bottlenecks in core technologies and equipment, Chinese brands can transform from followers to leaders in the global high-end bearing market.