#China #Shanghai #KEENON Robotics #Service Robots #WAIC 2026

KEENON Robotics Showcases Humanoid Robots at WAIC 2026

At the WAIC 2026 held in Shanghai, KEENON Robotics demonstrated its innovative approach by presenting both humanoid and specialized service robots. These robots are not meant to compete against one another, but rather to function complementarily within commercial service workflow environments.

According to IDC, KEENON secured the top position in the delivery of commercial service robots globally in 2025 and maintained its leadership in the delivery robot market. The prediction for the industry suggests a future that embraces diverse robot forms tailored to specific tasks and environments. KEENON pioneered this strategy, bringing it to life through its demonstrations at the WAIC.

One of the standout highlights from their presentation is a new scenario featuring hotel laundry operations. The humanoid robots are tasked with operational duties such as loading and unloading washing machines, retrieving clean laundry, and folding clothing. In tandem, the DinerBot T9 supports the entire delivery process, illustrating the synergy between humanoid and specialized robots as they take on distinct tasks to collaborate seamlessly in real hotel operations.

Beyond hotel workflows, KEENON applies this role-based approach in sectors like gastronomy and retail. Leveraging years of experience interacting with customers in restaurants and stores, the XMAN-R1 robot integrates service tasks that involve handling items—from preparing drinks with NOWWA Coffee to fulfilling dessert requests within retail contexts. Rather than simply presenting standalone demonstrations, these scenarios show how KEENON is extending established workflows from commercial sectors to harness newly developed humanoid capabilities, all executed autonomously without remote control.

With its strategy that combines versatile humanoids and specialized service robots, KEENON is paving the way for embodied intelligence in the service sector. Humanoids are capable of undertaking flexible operational and interactive roles, while specialized robots manage high-frequency delivery and cleaning tasks. During WAIC 2026, KEENON not only revealed additional robotic forms but also introduced a more comprehensive concept for commercial utilization.

Having deployed over 100,000 service robots across 70 countries, KEENON has made significant strides enabling prominent global brands in various industries to enhance their operations. The company has been widely adopted by leading brands such as Burger King, Buffalo Wild Wings, Hilton, BMW, and LEGO. In settings like the Hotel Around Pyeongchang, there are instances of deploying anywhere from 10 to over 20 robots, while the Shangri-La Trader Hotel boasts a mixed fleet of eight robots from six different types, becoming the world’s first smart hotel to utilize both humanoid and specialized service robots.

With proven efficiency in deploying multiple robots, KEENON is setting industry standards in commercial robotics, demonstrating the immense potential of integrated robotic solutions in enhancing business operations. As the company continues to innovate, it’s clear that the realm of service robotics is on the verge of a transformational shift that aligns technology with the growing demands of various commercial sectors.