here's the most basic supply chain to even start a robotics renaissance in america:
upstream materials:
rare earth separation magnet manufacturing (sintering → machining → magnetization) (for high-torque motors)
silicon carbide boule growth (for efficient power electronics)
bearing-grade steel processing (for races & ball bearings)
copper refining & wire drawing (for motor windings & pcbs)
engineering polymer compounding (for high-strength gears & frames)
pcb fabrication (the bare boards for all electronics)
battery cell production (anode/cathode refining → cell assembly)
forming & finishing:
forging (for high-strength structural parts, joints, and shafts)
investment casting & hp die casting (for complex parts, frames, housings)
laser cutting & press brake forming (for sheet metal structures)
progressive stamping (for motor laminations)
precision cnc machining (for shafts, couplings, final tolerances)
injection, insert & overmolding (for precision polymer and structural parts)
resin transfer/layup molding (composites)
heat treat, plating, anodizing, e-coating (for strength & corrosion resistance)
components & modules:
reducers (harmonic for precision, rv/cycloidal for power)
motors/servos (winding → magnetization → encoders)
power electronics modules (sic mosfets/igbts)
precision bearings (for all smooth motion)
sealed harnesses & connectors (the nervous system)
pcb assembly (smt for board-level electronics)
system & scale:
a domestic, automated alternative to foxconn/flex
robust UL-style testing & qualification facilities
materials recycling & reclamation (rare earths, metals, polymers)
china can ship a ~$6k humanoid because these layers are co-located and run 24/7. the US has pockets of excellence, but without a dense, end-to-end industrial base, we'll be dependent on others and celebrating AI slop while they're pouring castings at 3am. not to mention our complete dependence on foreign machine tools.
America is celebrating its AI software lead. But we're missing the bigger picture.
China has more robots in production than the rest of the world combined. Unitree is selling advanced humanoids for $5,900. China has entire "dark factories" factories that run with zero humans.
Jensen Huang says the “ChatGPT moment for general robotics” is coming. China is ready. Right now, the United States is not.
New WSJ piece with
@AnneNeuberger on why the US needs to get serious about robotics, fast