China is launching digital ID system for humanoids, each robot will get its own unique code
China has launched a national platform that assigns every humanoid robot a unique 29-digit digital identity. The code will help authorities, manufacturers and users track the robot throughout its lifecycle, from production and sales to maintenance, recycling and eventual retirement.
Unique identification numbers are typically used to keep track of humans. The ID card helps governments and organisations verify identities and maintain records. Now, China wants to do something similar for humanoid robots. The country has launched a national digital identity system that will assign every AI-powered robot its own unique code. This ID card will essentially be a digital passport that follows the machine from the factory floor to maintenance, recycling and eventual retirement.
China is calling the initiative the Humanoid Full Lifecycle Management Service Platform. Under the new system, every humanoid robot manufactured in the country is being assigned a unique 29-digit identification code that can be used to track the machine throughout its lifecycle, from production and sales to maintenance, recycling and eventual retirement.
According to Chinese state media, the programme is designed to improve oversight of the rapidly growing humanoid robotics sector while introducing common standards and better traceability. The platform will record a robot's journey through manufacturing, sales, deployment, maintenance, recycling and eventual disposal.
What will the robot ID actually do?
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is overseeing the initiative through its Humanoid Robotics and Embodied Intelligence Standardization Committee. The identification number will essentially act as a digital identity for each robot, allowing authorities, manufacturers and users to track it throughout its entire lifecycle.
The ID will help authorities create a traceability system that records key information about the robot, including who made it, what model it is, where it is deployed, its maintenance history and what eventually happens to it when it reaches the end of its life. Officials say this will make it easier to monitor safety risks, identify faulty products and assign responsibility if problems arise.
The 29-digit code itself consists of four parts: a two-digit country code, a four-digit manufacturer code, a six-digit product model code and a unique 17-digit serial number assigned to each individual robot. Together, these details will every humanoid robot a distinct digital identity that can be tracked across different industries and use cases.
The framework will apply to the entire humanoid robotics ecosystem, including manufacturers, sellers, service providers, users and recycling companies. According to report, the system is aimed at addressing safety, governance and accountability challenges while supporting the wider deployment of humanoid robots across industries.
Meanwhile, the new framework is also said to introduce stricter rules for manufacturers. One of the most notable requirements is a "no code, no market access" policy, meaning humanoid robots cannot be sold or deployed in China without being registered in the system. Companies will also be required to issue recalls if common defects are discovered, while refurbished robots created from scrapped units will not be allowed back into the market.
The system is already being rolled out across the industry. Reports suggest that more than 100 Chinese humanoid robot manufacturers have joined the platform, with over 28,000 robots across 200 different models already assigned digital identities.