The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opened in Hefei, Anhui Province on Sunday, drawing guests from more than 50 countries and regions to a showcase of intelligent industrial equipment focused on emerging industries including embodied intelligence, next-generation AI, and intelligent connected vehicles. The event demonstrated how robotics and AI are moving from demonstration into operational deployment across Chinese industrial infrastructure.
Among the most technically distinctive exhibits were hexapod inspection robots designed for high-risk industrial environments where bipedal or wheeled platforms cannot operate.
Hexapod Robots for Enclosed Industrial Spaces
One hexapod robot on display used six legs each equipped with a suction cup, enabling movement through enclosed spaces including power plant pipelines and substation interiors. The six-leg configuration maintains three points of contact with the surface at all times while the other three advance, providing the stability required to traverse vertical walls and inverted ceilings – environments that access constraints make prohibitively dangerous or physically impossible for human inspectors.
A second hexapod, in a bright yellow exterior for high-risk power environment visibility, weighed only 2.5 kilograms and carried LiDAR, visual cameras, and infrared sensors for detecting abnormal sounds, gases, and liquids. Through 5G connectivity and quantum-encrypted communication, the robot connects to the Guangming Power Large Model – an AI system released by the State Grid Corporation of China – transmitting data and receiving real-time recommendations for handling detected anomalies. Multiple units can coordinate as a team to expand inspection coverage and throughput.
Industrial AI Drones: Thermal and Cargo Applications
Beyond ground-based platforms, the convention featured two drone systems representing distinct industrial applications.
A power inspection drone combined standard visual imaging with thermal imaging to detect hidden faults in electrical equipment. During demonstrations, the system identified a transformer with a highlighted area exceeding 98 degrees Celsius – an abnormal reading flagging the need for closer monitoring. The underlying visual large model has been deployed across Anhui Province, covering 210,000 kilometers of distribution lines and analyzing more than 50 million inspection images. With more than 50 million inspection cases accumulated, the system identifies faults with over 94% accuracy, reducing manual inspection workload by 80% and cutting fault-related outage rates across the provincial power grid by more than 58%.
A logistics cargo drone designed for goods transportation featured a 50-kilogram payload capacity in a rectangular cargo cabin, combining a five-meter fixed wing with six rotor blade groups. The hybrid design allows vertical takeoff and landing without a runway – using rotors for ascent and descent – while the fixed wing enables cruising at up to 120 kilometers per hour with a 150-kilometer range. Target applications include geological exploration, security patrols, emergency medical services, and logistics delivery.
China’s Industrial Robot Export Milestone
The convention opened in the context of a structural shift in China’s robotics trade position. According to the General Administration of Customs, China’s industrial robot exports surpassed imports for the first time in 2025. In the first half of 2026, China exported industrial robots worth 6.29 billion yuan – approximately $939 million – up 18.6% year-on-year, shipped to 141 countries and regions. The WMC’s focus on embodied intelligence and industrial AI deployment reflects a domestic industry that is simultaneously scaling commercial applications at home and expanding its international export footprint.
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