China’s Giant Robotic Arm Brings “Artificial Sun” Dream Closer
- Ritambhara K
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
credit: myNEWS
China has unveiled and successfully tested a massive robotic system capable of lifting an astonishing 60 tonnes with pinpoint accuracy, a breakthrough that advances the country’s long-standing goal of developing an “artificial sun” through nuclear fusion technology.
The remote-handling test platform, composed of three robotic arms, recently passed expert evaluation and acceptance, according to a September 15 report by the state-run Science and Technology Daily. At the heart of the system is a giant main arm that demonstrated the ability to hoist payloads of up to 60 tonnes while maintaining precise control, with vertical lifting accuracy within just 4 millimetres. This performance places the machine well ahead of existing robotic systems currently used for hazardous operations in the nuclear industry.
By comparison, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has designed a 7-metre robotic arm for reactor maintenance that can handle 2 tonnes at the tip—dramatic evidence of the Chinese system’s unprecedented strength. Complementing the main arm, two smaller arms on the platform provide remarkable flexibility and precision, achieving repeat positioning accuracy of ±0.01 millimetres, making the system one of the most advanced of its kind in the fusion research field.
The robotic platform is a key subsystem of the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT), nicknamed Kuafu after a mythical figure who chased the sun. Built under the guidance of the Institute of Plasma Physics, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Hefei, Anhui province, CRAFT is one of China’s flagship research facilities supporting the development and testing of fusion reactor components.
Fusion reactors operate under extreme conditions where core elements, such as protective cladding, must withstand intense heat, radiation and pressure. Over time, these components degrade, requiring maintenance. Because human access is impossible, only robots capable of enduring hostile environments—strong magnetic fields, neutron bombardment and blistering heat—can perform the necessary repairs. Existing industrial robots are ill-suited to such conditions, especially when it comes to balancing ultra-high precision with heavy payload capacity.
According to Pan Hongtao, a researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics who led the project, the team overcame challenges in materials science, robotics design, sensor technology, control systems and reliability to deliver a machine capable of meeting these extreme demands. He noted that the mastered technologies are expected to play a vital role not only in China’s domestic fusion projects but also in international collaborations.
Among the projects likely to benefit are China’s Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak, scheduled for completion in 2027, and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, where 35 nations are collaborating to build the world’s largest fusion device. ITER’s own robotic system can handle payloads of up to 45 tonnes, a figure surpassed by the new Chinese arm.
Beyond fusion energy, the technology could also find applications in nuclear plant maintenance, aerospace, heavy machinery operations, and even emergency rescue missions, where precision handling of massive loads is crucial.
CRAFT itself is slated for completion by the end of this year, with more than 300 scientists and engineers contributing to the project. Developers say it will integrate both proven ITER technologies and new innovations still under development, solidifying China’s role as a leader in the global race toward practical fusion energy.
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