American robotics companies are advocating for a national strategy to enhance the industry, proposing the establishment of a federal office dedicated to its promotion, especially as China prioritizes humanoid robots.

On Capitol Hill, representatives from companies like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Agility Robotics met with lawmakers to showcase their products and urge the adoption of policies that would strengthen U.S. competitiveness in robotics.

Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik, reminded lawmakers that General Motors introduced the first industrial robot in the U.S. in 1961, but the country has since lost its lead to Japan. He emphasized the need for a national strategy to maintain progress, stating that the upcoming robotics race, driven by artificial intelligence, is “anybody’s to win.”

The Association for Advancing Automation highlighted that a national strategy would allow U.S. companies to scale production and enhance robot adoption, pointing out that China has already developed a comprehensive plan for robotics. If the U.S. does not respond, it risks losing its competitive edge.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi noted that while the U.S. is currently ahead, the rapid advancements in China warrant sustained innovation and entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Johnathan Chen said scaling manufacturing capabilities will be crucial for success.

China is the largest market for industrial robots, with about 1.8 million operating in factories. While Japan and Europe dominate the industrial robot market, Chinese manufacturers are growing rapidly.

Both nations are exploring humanoid robots combining AI and human-like features, though some experts, like Gartner’s Bill Ray, argue that more practical applications are needed. Cardenas believes a national strategy could bolster robot adoption and cultivate a new generation of robotics engineers, highlighting the importance of public interest in humanoid robots.