Blade Runner or replicant Roy Batty from Tyrrell Corporation, thus become reality.
China has unveiled a national system that introduces a valid digital ID to the rapidly expanding humanoid robotics sector, assigning each machine a 29-digit ID to enable traceability and, of course, secure governance, the Italian press writes.
The initiative establishes a unified framework to ensure safety, accountability and standardized governance, and is based on a national full-lifecycle management service platform for humanoid robots launched in Beijing.
The platform, run by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) standards body, serves as the operational backbone for the new regulatory specification, which requires each humanoid robot to be assigned a unique identity code.
Developed by leading national standards bodies, this digital identifier serves as a complete identity card for each machine and enables end-to-end traceability throughout the robot's life cycle – from production and sale, to daily use and final recycling.
The 29-digit code is meticulously structured into four segments: a 2-digit country code, a 4-digit company code, a 6-digit model code, and a 17-digit serial number.
Together, these elements form the basis of a traceability system, enabling accurate identification and tracking.
This movement is designed to address fundamental issues related to safety, management and governance, ultimately accelerating the practical application of humanoid robots. The regulatory update comes at a critical time: China's humanoid robot industry has seen explosive growth, with more than 500 companies concentrated in national hubs. This rapid expansion also triggered problems, including fragmented coding between different manufacturers.
The new standard imposes a strict “no code, no market access” rule. All robots sold or distributed domestically must be registered, and manufacturers are required to recall products when common defects are detected. Refurbishment and resale of scrapped robots is strictly prohibited
The platform creates a closed-loop governance mechanism. Covering research and development, production, maintenance and recycling, the system – according to Beijing regulators – ensures risk prevention and clear tracing of responsibilities back to the source.
High-quality globalization of humanoid robots requires a standardized management system with unified rules. More than 100 companies have signed up to the program, issuing complete life cycle codes for more than 28,000 units of the 200 product models.
The initiative not only provides the technical basis for international mutual recognition and cross-border circulation, but also strengthens China's role in defining global standards and industry competitiveness. (Material produced with the support of Rador Radio Romania)
