Chinese Humanoid Robots Deployed at Tokyo's Haneda Airport for Baggage Handling

Japan Airlines has announced a two-year trial using humanoid robots from Chinese firms Unitree and UBTech for ground-handling operations at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The trial, starting this month and running through 2028, will involve tasks such as aircraft towing, baggage and cargo loading and unloading, and cabin cleaning. The robots used are Unitree's G1, standing 1.3 meters tall and weighing 35kg, and UBTech's Walker E, which is 1.72 meters tall and weighs 73kg. The initiative is a response to Japan's acute labour shortages in the aviation industry. The partnership includes GMO AI & Robotics. Unitree and UBTech did not respond to requests for comment.