What key technologies need to be broken through in the industrialization of humanoid robots?
China News Service, Beijing, November 11 (Reporter Liu Yuying) Humanoid robots have become one of the promising development hotspots in the global science and technology community. With the efforts of both policy and industry, the industrialization of Chinese humanoid robots 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 100 Association, told China News Service that humanoid robots are high-tech comprehensive platforms integrating mechanical manufacturing, materials science, information and communication, computer science, mechanical computing, artificial intelligence, sensors, automatic control, bionics and other disciplines, representing the highest technical level of intelligent equipment in the world today.
At present, robot companies around the world have launched their own products to explore emerging scenario applications. Tesla's "Optimus Prime", Boston Dynamics Atlas, UBTECH Walker X, etc., have been able to independently complete complex service and decision-making needs. "Optimus Prime" can already perform tasks such as watering plants, moving items in the factory, and self-sorting; Walker X can independently control household appliances such as refrigerators and vacuum cleaners, and can complete smart home services such as massage, serving tea and pouring water, and emotional interaction.
Goldman Sachs, an international investment bank, predicts that by 2035, the market size of humanoid robots is expected to reach $1540 billion, releasing value in alleviating labor shortages and reducing the burden of production work.
Industry insiders believe that the industrialization of robots is close to 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 China News Service that the "Guiding Opinions on the Innovation and Development of Humanoid Robots" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China a few days ago emphasizes that breakthroughs have been made in a number of key technologies such as "brain" and "cerebellum" and "limbs", which will help establish an innovation system for humanoid robots. The "brain" is related to large models, autonomous decision-making, and behavior control, while the "cerebellum" mainly refers to the motor control system.
Yin Chuanhao told the reporter of China News Service that the key technologies of "limbs" can be divided into "upper limbs", "lower limbs" and "trunk" key technologies, "upper limbs" technology refers to technologies related to robotic arms, dexterous hands, two-hand control, hand-eye control, etc., "lower limbs" technology refers to technologies related to bionic joints, bionic legs and feet, walking control, foot-eye control, etc., and "torso" 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 the large model is 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 humanoid robots to release greater value in a wider range of fields.
Huang Xiaoqing, founder, chairman and CEO of MindMinds Robot, believes that the future robot will be a technical system based on the architecture of "cloud (cloud brain), network (security network) and end (robot terminal)".
At present, many technology companies in China have laid out 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 top in the world in multiple dimensions of humanoid robot technology patents. Among them, the total number of patent applications for Chinese humanoid robot technology is 6618,1699, surpassing Japan, South Korea, the United States and other countries, ranking first in the world; In terms of effective invention patents, it also ranks second in the world with <>,<> patents.
"China's humanoid robots have a certain industrial base, and there is no 'generational difference' compared with other countries in terms of humanoid robot technology and application." Xiong Youjun said.
Yin Chuanhao said that in addition to breaking through core technologies, we should also focus on improving the cultivation of key products, the expansion of scene applications, the creation of industrial ecology, and the construction of support capabilities, so as to form a joint force to promote the development of the humanoid robot industry. (ENDS)