When Howard Huang, a trained engineer specializing in optical measurement, founded Orbbec in 2013, his goal was clear: to transform his academic research into real-world applications. Today, Huang’s vision has materialized into a company at the forefront of China’s rapidly growing humanoid robot sector.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, China’s hardware hub, Orbbec develops advanced 3D vision cameras that allow machines to perceive depth much like human eyes. These cameras enable robots to navigate their environments with greater precision a capability that has made them indispensable for both commercial and industrial applications.
Orbbec’s technology is now powering China’s humanoid robot industry, most notably the state-backed X-Humanoid’s Tiangong Ultra, which in April won what was billed as the world’s first humanoid half-marathon in Beijing, besting more than 20 competing robots. Riding this surge in robotics enthusiasm, Orbbec’s shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange have skyrocketed more than 315% over the past year, bringing its market capitalization to $5.2 billion.
Howard Huang, 45, serves as chairman and CEO, holding a 27% stake in the company, making him Orbbec’s largest shareholder. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.4 billion.
While humanoid robots remain niche, Orbbec’s primary revenue driver continues to be 3D vision cameras used in facial recognition systems for contactless payments and medical insurance verification. In the first half of 2025, the company posted a net profit of 30 million yuan ($4 million), reversing a net loss of 81 million yuan a year earlier. Revenue more than doubled to 436 million yuan, with 62% coming from modules for facial recognition in retail and healthcare sectors.
A key growth factor has been rising sales of 3D vision cameras for payment applications, including systems deployed by Jack Ma-backed Ant Group. Alipay, Ant Group’s digital payment platform, allows shoppers to check out at retail stores by scanning their faces. Ant Group is also Orbbec’s largest external investor, holding a 9% stake through subsidiary Shanghai Yunxin Venture Capital.
Robotics accounted for 31% of Orbbec’s first-half revenue, with industrial applications such as 3D scanning for defect detection and assembly simulation making up the rest. The company’s clients in robotics primarily include service bot makers like China’s Pudu Robotics and Gausium, patient care bot manufacturer Robocare, and South Korea-based warehouse bot firm Twinny. Orbbec claims a market share exceeding 70% for 3D vision cameras in China’s service bot sector.
The company has recently expanded into humanoid robotics. In addition to the Tiangong Ultra, Orbbec’s cameras are used in Ant Lingbo Technology’s wheeled, two-armed R1 bot, unveiled in September.
To capitalize on China’s robot boom, Orbbec announced plans in September to raise up to 1.9 billion yuan through a private share placement. The funds will support research and development in “AI vision and spatial perception technology,” including advanced chips and software to enhance robots’ ability to simulate human vision. The company forecasts its robotics revenue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 100% over the next three to five years.
Howard Huang’s path to entrepreneurship was built on an extensive academic foundation. He earned his Ph.D. in engineering from City University of Hong Kong, a master’s from the National University of Singapore, and a bachelor’s from Peking University. Before founding Orbbec, he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology.
Orbbec’s first major breakthrough came in 2017 when it secured a deal with Ant Group to embed its 3D cameras in Alipay’s facial recognition payment system. A year later, the company partnered with Chinese smartphone maker Oppo to launch the world’s first Android smartphone with 3D facial recognition, enabling biometric authentication. Huang recalled in a 2023 interview with state-owned Guangdong Radio and Television that Oppo initially hesitated due to Orbbec’s small size. “We were confident. It was challenging, but if Apple could do it, why couldn’t we?” he said.
Over the years, Orbbec has attracted investment from firms including Hong Kong-based SAIF Partners, a spinoff from SoftBank, and MediaTek Ventures, the venture arm of Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek. The company expanded into supplying 3D vision cameras for robots in 2016 and doubled down in 2022, going public on Shanghai’s STAR Market with a 1.2 billion yuan IPO.
Howard Huang remains ambitious about Orbbec’s potential. “My motto is: ‘Climb the highest peaks in the best of times and tackle the toughest challenges in the most cutting-edge industries,’” he said in a recent interview. “Achieving global influence in the robotics industry that is the highest peak we aim to conquer.”
With its blend of advanced technology, strategic partnerships, and bold expansion plans, Orbbec is poised to remain a central player in China’s robotics revolution, shaping both the machines of today and the humanoid robots of tomorrow.