China to Deploy Thousands of ‘Robot Dogs’ to Patrol, Inspect Power Grid

China’s next power-grid worker may have four legs, sensors, and no lunch break.

State Grid Corporation of China plans to acquire roughly 8,500 AI-powered robots in 2026, including about 5,000 quadruped robot dogs, according to the South China Morning Post. The reported 6.8 billion yuan, or about $1 billion, initiative would put robots to work inspecting substations, patrolling transmission lines, and handling maintenance in remote or hazardous areas.

The deployment shows how the AI race is moving beyond chatbots and office tools into physical infrastructure, where robots could reduce risks for human workers while helping utilities maintain increasingly complex power networks.

Humanoid robots for high-risk tasks

Beyond robot dogs, China is also investing in humanoid and dual-arm robots for more dangerous and technically demanding work. These machines will be tasked with maintaining ultra-high-voltage power lines and performing live-line operations, jobs that traditionally expose human workers to significant risks.

Per SCMP, these robots will “perform more high-stakes tasks, including maintaining the country’s rapidly expanding ultra-high-voltage power grid.”  The broader deployment is expected to cover hundreds of specialized tasks, forming what some reports describe as a fully integrated robotic workforce.

The initiative is not limited to a single company. Other major utilities, including China Southern Power Grid, are also investing heavily in similar technologies. Combined spending across the sector is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan in 2026, according to industry estimates cited by SCMP.

Chinese robotics firms, including Unitree Robotics, UBTech Robotics, and Fourier Intelligence, are listed among the key suppliers expected to deliver the machines.

China’s robotics push is already extending beyond its borders. A subsidiary of China Southern Power Grid has signed a deal to deploy its “Feiyun” robot dogs in Chile, where they will inspect remote substations. The development suggests that China is not only adopting robotic systems at scale but may also export the technology as part of its broader infrastructure strategy.

The bigger shift: AI moves into physical work

The push comes at a time when power grids worldwide are under pressure, from aging infrastructure to rising demand driven by AI and data centers. China’s approach focuses on improving efficiency and safety by reducing human exposure to hazardous work and accelerating maintenance operations.

At the same time, it highlights a growing shift in the global AI race, from software tools like chatbots to real-world machines operating at scale.

For a deeper look at which humanoids are actually leading this fast-moving space, check out our breakdown of the top humanoid robots ranked by real-world momentum