Link-Touch Draws Backing From CATL, Agibot as Force Sensors Gain Traction

Why It Matters

The capital infusion accelerates Link‑Touch’s scale‑up, cementing its dominance in a critical component of the fast‑growing humanoid‑robot market and deepening CATL’s foothold across the robotics supply chain.

Key Takeaways

• Series C+ raised over RMB 100 million (≈$14.6 M).
• Holds ~62% of China’s humanoid robot force‑sensor market.
• Sensors achieve 0.1% full‑scale accuracy and >10 kHz response.
• CATL’s backing links sensor maker to broader robotics supply chain.
• 2026 forecast: 400k joint sensors, 30‑40k six‑axis units shipped.

Pulse Analysis

Link‑Touch’s latest funding round underscores a broader shift in China’s robotics ecosystem, where battery giants like CATL are moving beyond energy storage to secure strategic positions in the embodied‑intelligence value chain. By investing in a component supplier that already dominates the six‑axis force‑sensor segment, CATL gains direct access to the hardware backbone of next‑generation humanoid robots. This vertical integration mirrors global trends where power‑train and sensor manufacturers collaborate to accelerate time‑to‑market for sophisticated robotic platforms.

The technical edge of Link‑Touch’s sensors—0.1% full‑scale accuracy, high‑frequency response above ten kilohertz, and a 500% overload tolerance—addresses two persistent bottlenecks in robot manipulation: mechanical compliance and vision‑driven positioning errors. Force data, unlike visual cues, captures real‑world contact dynamics, enabling tighter closed‑loop control and more reliable training of foundation models that require authentic tactile feedback. As robot manufacturers such as Agibot and Xiaomi embed these sensors, they can push the envelope of delicate tasks, from assembly to human‑robot interaction, without relying solely on expensive vision upgrades.

Looking ahead, Link‑Touch’s plan to scale production to one million joint sensors and 200,000 six‑axis units annually positions it to meet the explosive demand projected by IDC and Morgan Stanley—potentially 262,000 humanoid units worldwide by 2030. The company’s profitability streak and double‑digit revenue growth suggest a sustainable business model that can fund next‑generation sensor R&D. For investors and industry watchers, the partnership with CATL signals that force‑sensing will be a decisive factor in the race to commercialize large‑scale humanoid robots, both in China and overseas.