Development of intelligent robots in the wave of embodied intelligence

Abstract

On January 28, 2025, 24 humanoid robots from Unitree Ltd. performed alongside human dancers on the Spring Festival Gala of China Central Television. This performance captivated tens of millions of viewers and sparked widespread discussion across China. As Elon Musk ambitiously unveiled Tesla's plans for intelligent robots and various humanoid robot prototypes began appearing on the streets of major cities, embodied intelligence has emerged as the new frontier in science and technology. But what do terms like 'end-to-end embodied large model' and 'general intelligent robot' truly mean? Is the scientific foundation of embodied intelligence robust? How far can the embodied intelligence industry, particularly the intelligent robot sector, progress? Will 'one robot per household' become a reality within a few years, fundamentally transforming human production and lifestyle? In a timely panel discussion chaired by Professor Han Ding of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, seven leading researchers in embodied intelligence and robotics gathered to explore these questions. They delved into the scientific basis, technical roadmap, current developments, and major challenges in the field. Qijun Chen Professor, School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tongji University, China Yongchun Fang Vice President, Nankai University, China; Professor, School of Artificial Intelligence, Nankai University, China He Wang Assistant Professor, School of Computer Science, Peking University, China; Founder and CTO, Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd., China Yaonan Wang Professor, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Hunan University, China Rong Xiong Professor, School of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China Jing Xu Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, China Han Ding (Chair) Professor, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China.

Humanoid robot NAVIAI is performing a printed circuit board (PCB) coating task via collaboration of dual-arms and hands. (Photo provided by Prof. Rong Xiong)

Galbot robot uses coordinated dual arms to hang clothes on a hanger. (Photo provided by Galbot)