Chinese robotics firm UBTECH Robotics has taken a major step towards industrial autonomous logistics. UQI, one of its subsidiaries, confirmed that the Chitu α – an autonomous logistics vehicle has completed the Production Validation Testing (PVT) at Foxconn’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) R&D Centre in Zhengzhou.
The step marked the completion of a closed-loop validation process in an automotive factory, ensuring compliance with the required manufacturing standards, a key hurdle on the path to mass production.
Confirming the news on its official social media channels, the robotics firm revealed the run covered the entire production cycle in Foxconn’s smart factory.
What is Chitu α
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Chitu α, also known as Chitu or Chitu L4, is an L4-level autonomous logistics vehicle and a key component of UBTECH’s full-stack robotics solution for smart factories. It is designed to automate material handling and logistics tasks. Chitu α is designed to improve efficiency in industrial warehouses and logistics with driverless capabilities.
In BYD’s Changsha industrial park, UBTECH reports that Walker S1/S2, Wali heavy‑duty forklifts, and the L4 Chitu vehicle achieved a fully automated, integrated indoor‑to‑outdoor process, from sorting and palletizing to outdoor transfer and distribution.
The full-stack autonomous system
UQI introduced its “Full-Stack Unmanned Logistics Solution 2.0” in October last year, comprising the Walker S2 humanoid robot, the Chitu α autonomous vehicle, and a new Wali family of mobile robots. The platform is designed as an end-to-end automation system for logistical operations.
The solution enables 24/7 closed-loop workflows that cover storage, sorting, handling, and distribution, with applications ranging from factory floors to e-commerce warehouses and third-party logistics hubs. UBTECH’s UPilot 20 operating system is the main orchestrator of the entire system.
A new way to run factories
Beyond proving the vehicles can be built at scale, the project highlighted how factories could be run in the future. Chitu α logistics vehicles are designed to work alongside UBTECH’s Walker S2 humanoid robots, with both handling different tasks on the factory floor.
Together, they painted a picture of a future in which multiple types of robots work as a coordinated team to move materials and manage logistics in real production environments.
The production run was showcased as a complete closed-loop process, from vehicle assembly and testing to final delivery, establishing a robust foundation for the vehicle’s upcoming mass production.
A positive road ahead
UBTECH has already made headlines with its S2 Walker humanoid robots, built for factory work, featuring autonomous battery swapping and full mobility. They were rolled out in large numbers and tested in manufacturing environments, such as a 5G-enabled wind turbine plant.
The company recently agreed to trial Walker S2 robots for Airbus, while other firms, such as Texas Instruments, are evaluating machines on their production lines. How consistently these systems perform at scale will likely determine the pace and scope of future adoption.
date: 2026-02-07 07:46:00