What Key Technologies Need To Be Broken Through For The Industrialization Of Humanoid Robots?

Humanoid robots have become one of the promising development hot spots in the global technology community. With the efforts of both policy and industry, the industrialization of humanoid robots in China is expected to accelerate, but there are still many key technologies that need to be broken through.
Yin Chuanhao, a researcher at the China Digital Economy Association of 100, told a reporter from China News Service that humanoid robots integrate multiple disciplines such as mechanical manufacturing, materials science, information and communications, computer science, mechanical calculations, artificial intelligence, sensors, automatic control, and bionics. The high-tech comprehensive platform represents the highest technical level of intelligent equipment in the world today.

At present, various robot companies around the world have launched their own products and explored applications in emerging scenarios. Tesla "Optimus Prime", Boston Dynamics Atlas, UBTECH Walker X, etc. can already complete complex service and decision-making needs independently. "Optimus Prime" can already perform tasks such as watering plants, transporting items in factories, and autonomous sorting; Walker Serve.

Goldman Sachs, an international investment bank, predicts that the humanoid robot market is expected to reach US$154 billion by 2035, releasing value in terms of alleviating labor shortages and reducing production work burdens.

Industry insiders believe that the industrialization of robots is approaching the "dawn" moment, but there are still many key technologies that need to be broken through. Xiong Youjun, co-founder, chief technology officer and executive director of UBTECH, told a reporter from China News Service that the "Guiding Opinions on the Innovation and Development of Humanoid Robots" recently issued by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology emphasizes the "brain" and "cerebellum", " Breakthroughs in a number of key technologies such as "limbs" will help establish an innovation system for humanoid robots. "Brain" is related to large models, autonomous decision-making, and behavioral control, while "cerebellum" mainly refers to the motor control system.

Yin Chuanhao introduced to the reporter of China News Service that the key technologies of "limbs" can be divided into the key technologies of "upper limbs", "lower limbs" and "trunk". "Upper limb" technologies refer to those related to robotic arms, dexterous hands, two-hand control, hand-eye control, etc. Technology, "lower limb" technology refers to technology related to bionic joints, bionic legs and feet, walking control, foot and eye control, etc. "trunk" technology involves the control and operation of mechanism systems, material systems, power systems, and perception systems.

Large model technology plays a pivotal role in the "brain" of humanoid robots. Yin Chuanhao said that large models can be combined with humanoid robots in many aspects such as voice, vision, decision-making, and control, which can form a closed loop of perception, cognition, decision-making, and control, greatly improve the level of intelligence, and promote the release of humanoid robots in a wider range of fields. Greater value.

Huang Xiaoqing, founder, chairman and CEO of Datman Robot, believes that future robots will definitely be a technology system based on the architecture of "cloud (cloud brain), network (security network) and end (robot terminal)".

At present, many technology companies in China have developed humanoid robots. Recently, the "Humanoid Robot Technology Patent Analysis Report" released by the People's Daily Online Research Institute shows that China ranks among the best in the world in multiple dimensions of humanoid robot technology patents. Among them, the cumulative number of Chinese humanoid robot technology patent applications is 6,618, surpassing Japan, South Korea, the United States and other countries, ranking first in the world; in terms of valid invention patents, it also ranks second in the world with 1,699.

"China's humanoid robots have a certain industrial foundation, and there is no 'generational difference' compared with the technology and applications of humanoid robots in other countries." Xiong Youjun said.

Yin Chuanhao said that in addition to breakthroughs in core technologies, we should also focus on improving key product cultivation, scenario application expansion, industrial ecology creation, and support capacity building to form a synergy to promote the development of the humanoid robot industry.