China’s embodied intelligence endeavors reshaping productivity
BEIJING (Aug 28): While a technician wearing a full-body motion capture suit that features VR goggles, handheld controllers, and sensors strapped to his legs bends over, lifts his legs and turns, a humanoid robot in front of him mirrors every movement in real time. This is a novel scene at the Yunwan Embodied Intelligence Innovation [...] The post China’s embodied intelligence endeavors reshaping…
China's advances in "embodied intelligence" are transforming productivity by creating robots capable of performing tasks traditionally requiring human intervention. At the Yunwan Embodied Intelligence Innovation Centre in Guangzhou, a humanoid robot mirrors the movements of a technician wearing a full-body motion capture suit. This breakthrough follows the company's previous ability to control only the robot's upper body via remote control.
In fire rescue scenarios, a team at the center is developing a firefighting robot dog. By integrating advanced sensors and algorithms, the robot can navigate real-world environments to handle dangerous, high-risk tasks.
A similar approach is being taken by Li-Gong Industrial, which showcased robot workstations at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. These robots demonstrated capabilities in smart retail, intelligent sorting, material handling, and warehousing. Li-Gong's senior marketing manager explained that their "data capture kit" consists of gloves equipped with cameras and sensors that capture human hand movements and tactile feedback.
This data is then used to train robots to perform tasks requiring human-like manipulation, such as applying sealant or assembly work.
The demand for these robots is surging, with orders booked through October and a growing customer base in South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Li-Gong's workforce is primarily focused on research and development, manufacturing robots that can in turn produce more robots.
China’s embodied intelligence industry is rapidly evolving, with robots moving from basic mobility to complex, real-world applications. According to Li Yan, a researcher at the Development Research Centre of the State Council, embodied intelligence is progressing from simple task execution to environmental perception, decision-making, and collaborative work. The technology's potential extends to industrial manufacturing, agriculture, special operations, and public services.
A notable example of this shift is the use of autonomous logistics robots in Shenzhen's metro system. These robots, developed by 1024 Robotics, navigate Metro Line 16 during off-peak hours, transporting supplies and goods. They can automatically pass through fare gates, take elevators, board and alight from trains, and navigate without GPS assistance.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) explicitly recognizes embodied intelligence as a key driver of economic growth. A national action plan has been launched to identify over 100 high-value application scenarios for humanoid robots and embodied intelligence. The Chinese government is actively supporting this development through initiatives like the "AI Plus" plan, fostering new forms of the intelligent economy, and upgrading traditional industries.
Written by urgent.news from Borneo Post Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
