Over the next five years, the core components of humanoid robots will undergo a systematic cost reduction. The costs of integrated joint modules, reducers, servo systems, and sensors are expected to decrease by 40%-70%, primarily driven by large-scale mass production, full-stack localization, and technology integration.
1. Integrated Joint Modules: A Dramatic Cost Drop and a Leap in Mass Production Efficiency
Cost Trend: The current cost of a single high-volume integrated joint module has dropped below $300 (approximately RMB 2200), a decrease of over 60% from the previous $800. With companies like Quanzhibo achieving high-throughput production of one joint every 90 seconds, the unit price is expected to further decrease to below RMB 1000 by 2027.
Cost Reduction Logic: Through a four-in-one integrated design of "motor + reducer + driver + encoder," combined with automated production lines (automation rate exceeding 85%) and full-process calibration, a yield rate exceeding 96% is achieved, significantly reducing manufacturing and debugging costs.
Industry Impact: Joint modules account for nearly 50% of the total cost of the robot. Their cost reduction will directly drive the BOM (Bill of Materials) of humanoid robots from the current tens of thousands of yuan to below 100,000 yuan, accelerating commercialization.
2. Reducers: Domestic substitution deepens, high-end products break the monopoly.
Harmonic Reducers: Domestic manufacturers such as Green Harmonic and Laifu Harmonic have achieved precision and lifespan comparable to Harmonic Drive Systems, with unit prices 40%-50% lower than imported products. The domestic production rate is expected to exceed 60% by 2025 and is projected to rise to over 70% by 2027.
RV Reducers: Companies like Qinchuan Machine Tool have made breakthroughs in high-precision machining processes, reducing the delivery cycle from 3 months to 45 days and lowering costs by 30%, accelerating their penetration into heavy-duty robots.
Planetary Roller Screws: As the core of linear drives, domestic manufacturer Boruspan has achieved small-batch delivery, with a load-bearing capacity more than 3 times that of ball screws and costs 30%-40% lower. Large-scale application is expected to begin in 2026.
3. Servo Systems: The rise of domestic frameless motors significantly reduces drive costs.
Frameless Torque Motors: Domestic manufacturers such as Huichuan Technology and Mingzhi Electric have achieved internationally advanced torque density in their products, with a unit price of 900-1300 yuan, only 1/3 of Maxon's imported products. They are already being used in batches by OEMs such as Yushu and UBTECH.
Drive and Control Integration: Manufacturers like Yiyou Technology integrate drivers and encoders into joint modules, reducing wiring and interface costs and further optimizing the overall system cost structure.
Trend Outlook: With the increase in localization rate and the reduction of hardware redundancy through algorithm optimization, the overall cost of servo systems is expected to decrease by more than 50% in the next five years.
