In China, robots began to be issued “digital passports”: humanoids received 29-digit IDs

China has introduced a national digital identification system for humanoid robots, taking another step toward centralized regulation of the fast-growing industry. On May 28, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) unveiled a full lifecycle platform for humanoid machines, in which each device is assigned a unique 29-digit code.

In fact, this code acts as a “digital passport” accompanying the work at all stages — from production and sales to operation, service and disposal.

How the digital ID is arranged

The new system is built according to a clear structural logic and includes four segments: a two-digit country code, a four-digit company identifier, a six-digit model code and a 17-digit serial number of a specific device.

The regulator introduces the principle “no code – no entry to the market”. This means that any humanoid robots intended for sale or operation in the country must undergo mandatory registration in the system.

Manufacturers are also responsible for recalling devices when defects are found, and the resale of decommissioned or decommissioned robots is officially prohibited.

Life cycle control and market transparency

According to Yu Xiumin, vice president of the China Electronics Standardization Institute (CESI), a unified management system is necessary for the qualitative globalization of the industry and the creation of unified rules for all market participants.

An important part of the initiative is the transparency of the secondary market: each robot receives a digital history of operation, similar to a car’s VIN code. This will allow verification of actual wear and tear, service history and replacement of key components, reducing the risks of fraud and hidden defects.

Scale of implementation already now

According to the regulator, the system has already covered more than 100 companies and assigned identifiers to more than 28,000 robots within about 200 models.

This forms the world’s first large-scale accounting database for humanoid robotics, which can potentially become the basis of future international standards.

The humanoid market is growing at a record pace

The launch of the system takes place in exchange for the rapid growth of the industry. According to research company Omdia, the global supply of humanoid robots in 2025 has increased more than fivefold compared to the previous year.

At the same time, China occupies a dominant position: local manufacturers account for more than 80% of the world production of humanoids. Individual companies such as AGIBOT provide a significant share of production in the segment.

Potential global effect

Although the system currently operates exclusively in China, experts are already considering it as a possible future international standard. The reason is the scale of the Chinese market and the high concentration of production of humanoid robotics in the country.

If the digital passport model is exported, it could become the basic mechanism for regulating the global market for humanoid robots, similar to the VIN system in the automotive industry.