2026 is considered the first year of mass production for humanoid robots.According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and multiple industry research institutions, global humanoid robot production will exceed 100,000 units in 2026, as industrialization accelerates from vision to reality. Tesla Optimus, UBTECH Walker X, Xiaomi CyberOne, Zhiyuan Robotics... Chinese and foreign tech giants are betting on this track, and capital and supply chains are rapidly gathering.But few people notice a key issue: every humanoid robot needs 50 to 60 encoders.100,000 robots × 50 encoders = 5 million encoders — and this is only the initial demand in 2026. When humanoid robot production reaches the million-unit level, encoder demand will be in the hundreds of millions.So why do humanoid robots need so many encoders? Where do these encoders currently come from? Where are the opportunities for Chinese companies? This article provides an in-depth analysis.Why do humanoid robots need 50-60 encoders?The core capability of humanoid robots is multi-degree-of-freedom movement — arms must swing, fingers must grasp, legs must walk, waist must rotate, and head must turn. Every movable "joint" is essentially a precision motion execution unit.To achieve precise, smooth, and safe movements, each joint must be equipped with at least one encoder.According to industry data compiled by Kewei Semiconductor, encoder usage for various types of robots is as follows:
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It can be clearly seen that humanoid robots are the single category with the largest encoder usage, far exceeding industrial robots and surgical robots.So where exactly are these 50-60 encoders distributed?- Arm joints: shoulder, elbow, and wrist each require 1-2 encoders (to measure angle and speed); both arms total about 6-8.
- Finger joints: each finger usually requires 1 encoder to control grip force and position; five fingers total about 5-10.
- Leg joints: hip, knee, and ankle each require encoders; both legs total about 6-8.
- Waist and torso: rotation and pitch movements require 2-4 encoders.
- Head and neck: turning and pitching require 2-4 encoders.
- Wheeled chassis (if any): drive wheels require 2-4 encoders.
In addition, high-end humanoid robots also use a dual-encoder design (one at the motor end and one at the output end) to achieve higher positioning accuracy (up to 0.001 degrees) and safer human-robot interaction. As a result, encoder usage will further increase.High-end Encoders: The Last "Hard Nut to Crack" for Domestic SubstitutionHigh encoder usage is one thing, but what grade of encoders are used is another.The working environment of humanoid robots is special: they need to achieve high power density output in a narrow space, resist strong electromagnetic interference generated by motor operation, support high-speed real-time communication, and maintain accuracy without drift during long-term operation.These requirements determine that humanoid robots must use industrial-grade or even military-grade high-end optical encoders, rather than consumer-grade products.In the high-end optical encoder market, the presence of Chinese companies is almost zero.According to Statista and industry research data:- In 2025, the global encoder market size is about US$5-6 billion, and China's is about RMB 12 billion.
- In the encoder chip field, US-based Avago (Broadcom) and Japan-based KODENSHI together account for as much as 60% of China's market share.
- In the encoder complete machine field, Japan's Tamagawa and Germany's Heidenhain together account for about 42% of China's market share.
Specifically for segmented applications:- Printers: about 100% of encoder chips are supplied by Japan's KODENSHI.
- Industrial automation: about 80% of encoder chips are supplied by US-based Avago and Germany's Ic-Haus.
This means: for every high-end robot China produces, the core "sensory nerve" — the encoder — almost entirely needs to be imported from Japan, Germany, and the United States.
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This is not only a cost issue, but also a supply chain security issue. Against the backdrop of the deepening China-US technology rivalry, a "supply cutoff" of any key component could halt the entire industrial chain.How Big Is the Incremental Market Driven by the Robotics Industry?Humanoid robots are just the tip of the iceberg in the encoder incremental market. Let's broaden our view and look at the size of the entire motion control sensor market.According to industry data:The overall market size of motion control sensors is expected to exceed US$20.8 billion by 2030.
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As the largest single item (about 50%), encoders are upgrading from traditional "single sensing elements" to "integrated intelligent components combining sensing, driving, control, and computing." Industry pioneers such as Kewei have already laid out in this direction. Their integrated intelligent encoders integrate sensing, driving, control, and computing, enabling intelligent functions such as real-time monitoring, fault warning, and adaptive control, providing a complete closed-loop solution for robot joint modules.Kewei's Positioning: A Core Force in Domestic SubstitutionIn the upcoming explosive track of humanoid robot encoders, Kewei Semiconductor has completed key layout:
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1. Technology PositioningKewei's encoder chip comprehensive performance parameters have benchmarked against and partially surpassed international competitors — maximum resolution 600LPI (competitors ≤360LPI), ESD protection 8000V (competitors 2000V), operating frequency ≤400kHz (competitors ≤60kHz), wide voltage 2.7-24V support (competitors only 2.7-5.5V). This means Kewei's products can not only meet the precision and reliability requirements of humanoid robots, but even have the ability to "overtake" in some indicators.2. Supply Chain PositioningKewei has nearly 4,000 square meters of independent packaging and testing production lines in Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai, and has established full-chain supply chain management capabilities from wafer fabrication to packaging and testing, ensuring capacity and delivery times during large-scale mass production.3. Customer Validation PositioningKewei's encoder products have passed testing and factory audits by first-tier international brand customers such as HP and Pantum. The rigorous validation of first-tier brands is the strongest endorsement of product quality.4. Forward-looking LayoutKewei is developing China's first integrated intelligent encoder and AI motion control module combining "sensing, driving, control, and computing," focusing on high-end application scenarios such as humanoid robots, collaborative robots, and medical robots, and is expected to be officially launched by the end of 2026.Humanoid robots are the next trillion-level industry, and encoders are indispensable "neurons" in this industry.When 100,000 humanoid robots begin to roll off production lines, and when millions of robots begin to serve in factories and homes, encoder demand will leap from the "million level" to the "hundred-million level."By then, whoever possesses independently controllable high-end encoder technology will hold the core voice in the humanoid robot industrial chain.Kewei Semiconductor is accelerating on this track.(Next issue preview: 600LPI resolution, ESD 8000V — Why can Kewei encoders surpass first-tier international brands?)
