Taipei: Taiwanese manufacturers have a potential opportunity to significantly influence the humanoid robot supply chain, as highlighted by an industry operator. This development comes in the wake of remarks by Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang, who emphasized new collaborative ventures with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in fields such as robotics and self-driving technology.
According to Focus Taiwan, Yen Jui-hsiung, chairman of Tongtai Machine and Tool Co., Ltd., emphasized that Taiwanese companies possess the capability to produce essential components for humanoid robots, including harmonic drives and planetary gearboxes. Yen believes that this manufacturing strength could allow Taiwanese firms to integrate into the U.S. supply chain.
However, Yen pointed out that a significant hurdle remains the high production costs associated with humanoid robots. He noted that the current expense is so substantial that it effectively adds "an extra zero" to the target price. Despite this, Yen sees an opportunity for Taiwanese component manufacturers to play a pivotal role in reducing these costs and making humanoid robots more accessible.
Jensen Huang's visit to Taipei concluded on Sunday, following a luncheon with high-ranking management from Nvidia's supply chain partners in Taiwan, including TSMC. During this event, Huang shared insights into Nvidia's collaborative efforts with TSMC to explore new markets and business prospects in robotics and autonomous vehicles.
Huang expressed optimism about the future of robotics development, revealing Nvidia's investment in key robotics solutions: Agent AI, humanoid robots, and autonomous vehicles. His keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier in the year showcased the Thor Blackwell Robotics Processor, designed for automated handling machines and humanoid robots.
In parallel, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, announced ambitious plans at CES to produce a significant volume of Optimus humanoid robots, aiming for 50,000 to 100,000 units by 2026 and scaling to 500,000 units annually by 2027.
Source: Focus Taiwan