Empowering the Future: Young Entrepreneurs Forge Ahead in the Bodily Intelligence Industry

New Spring Initiatives: Collaborating to Forge a New Path in Embodied Intelligence Industry

As of now, there are over 150 humanoid robot companies in China, with the embodied intelligence industry growing at an impressive rate of over 50%. This sector is experiencing a significant boom. In the Embodied Intelligence Industrial Park located in Beijing’s Zhongguancun, a group of entrepreneurs with an average age of under 30 is working to enable robots to learn tasks such as grasping, transporting, and even performing surgeries. How are these young innovators shaping the future of the robotics industry?

At 6:30 PM, which is typically the peak hour for leaving work, the Embodied Intelligence Innovation Industrial Park remains brightly lit. Following the lights, the reporter enters the office to witness various types of robots diligently training. On the sixth floor of the park, a few young men are teaching a robotic arm how to fold socks.

Zhang Yufeng, founder of Unbounded Power Technology R&D Co., stated, “We teach the robot once, twice, a hundred times, five hundred times, or even nearly a thousand times, to learn how humans do it. There are still many unexplored areas waiting for us.” Zhang, a former top expert in the field of smart driving, decided to leave his familiar field last February, just before his 40th birthday, to embark on a new venture in embodied intelligence.

Zhang reflected, “At 40, I started to think about what meaningful endeavors I should invest my next ten or twenty years in. China’s hard technology is rapidly advancing, and we have our own innovations that could lead the way. I hope to get involved in this development.” Thus, Zhang and his partners set out to create humanoid robots capable of hand-eye-brain coordination and dexterous operations. Over the past year, they have been exploring uncharted territories daily.

The algorithms that give robots their intelligence serve as the core technology and pose significant challenges for innovation. Zhang mentioned that their algorithm team is currently working on a project that has undergone 869 experiments, with only a handful yielding success.

Guo Weulong, an algorithm engineer at Unbounded Power Technology R&D Co., expressed, “It feels like all my energy has been drained; I just want to collapse in my chair. But we have to adjust, or we can view this failure as a step closer to success.”

Although exploring new algorithms is challenging, Zhang is steadily pushing his team forward. However, he is particularly concerned about the hardware systems. A robot consists of thousands of components, each with high precision requirements. Zhang noted that the over thirty companies in the park, each specializing in different niches, are collaborating effectively in this new sector, creating a supportive industrial ecosystem.

When they were about to deliver an industrial robot, a crucial head motor had not yet been secured. Zhang said, “This motor is quite important as it directly affects the robot’s perception stability and accuracy. We urgently needed the component.” Once aware of Zhang’s need, a nearby parts company quickly customized a solution, alleviating their immediate concern.

Zhang remarked, “I went down to check the goods directly, and if there was an issue, I could quickly get help. This is the charm of the park’s ecosystem, bringing together excellent companies along the industrial chain.” The close proximity of supply chain partners has significantly boosted Zhang’s research and development efficiency. Recently, when he faced challenges in data collection, he sought collaboration with a specialized data collection company next door.

During the interview, the reporter accompanied Zhang to a salon event hosted by the park. Companies, research institutions, and government departments gathered to discuss how to establish a shared pilot platform in the park to prepare for future mass production.

Zhang Ao, General Manager of Zhongguancun Embodied Intelligence Innovation Industrial Park, commented, “The attendees are focused on this pilot platform, which is currently a pain point in their development that urgently needs addressing.”

In addition to the shared pilot platform, the park is also working on a 1,200 square meter shared data collection facility. Zhang Ao added, “We aim to convert this large green space outside our park into an eco-park for human-robot coexistence. We plan to create features such as a robot soccer field and a terrain training ground for robots, establishing a complete industrial ecosystem.”

With this supportive ecosystem, Zhang’s team has rapidly iterated their industrial robot over just nine months, improving the accuracy of its movements from 60% to 99%. The robot is now operational on a production line at a German company, and the client is very satisfied with its millimeter-level precision.

As their products are being implemented, several domestic and international companies have recently visited, expressing interest in collaboration, keeping Zhang very busy. With fertile ground for innovation, many new ideas are sprouting in the park, including the world’s first interactive desktop display robot and the first surgical robot capable of performing minimally invasive complex fracture reduction.

On this forward-looking path, the young entrepreneurs are filled with confidence and drive. Peng Tianfang, founder of Cell Wall Technology Company, remarked, “I believe this is the best era for innovation and entrepreneurship. China’s industrial capabilities are unrivaled globally, and we are realizing these innovations in this fertile environment.”

Li Yao, head of Noyton Robot Technology Co., added, “Time waits for no one; everyone is pushing forward with great effort. As we approach the Year of the Horse, it feels like a galloping momentum.”

Exiting the industrial park, the entrepreneurs’ fiery passion seems to ignite the cold winter. The folding beds in the office corners and the creative sparks in their youthful eyes reflect their tireless efforts to nurture this new industry. It is the collective spirit of urgency and collaboration that propels us forward in this technological revolution.