Walking on bumpy roads, smoothly completing actions like opening a bottle and pouring water, and showcasing a variety of expressions with their "transformable faces"—humanoid robots, long depicted in science fiction films as extraordinary companions capable of performing complex tasks, are continuously "evolving" from the realm of fantasy into our everyday lives.

On February 11, at the Jianghuai Advanced Technology Center in Hefei High-tech Zone, the humanoid robot "Qijiang No. 2," upon receiving a command, handed a cup of juice to a technician in front of it. Developed independently by our province, the "Qijiang No. 2" humanoid robot has 38 degrees of freedom and is equipped with multiple visual perception sensors, high-precision inertial measurement units, and high-precision six-dimensional force sensors. It not only achieves autonomous decision-making and multimodal interaction but also realizes agile body control through powerful computing capabilities and real-time embodied motion controllers.

At the beginning of the Lunar New Year, at Qizhi (Wuhu) Intelligent Robotics Co., Ltd., wheeled humanoid robots are continuously undergoing walking tests on the factory roads under technician operation. As a subsidiary of EFORT Intelligent Equipment, Qizhi is dedicated to creating a universal technical foundation for intelligent robots. By building an ecosystem, it aims to empower and inspire numerous developers to participate in the ecosystem and develop various specialized apps, transforming a single robot into a true "multifunctional warrior." It is reported that the company’s first-generation humanoid robot prototype will be officially released soon.

Through a series of measures including policy guidance, technological innovation, and industrial clustering, our province's robotics industry is evolving from nothing to something, growing from small to large, and becoming a vibrant leading force in new quality productive forces. Humanoid robot enterprises are emerging rapidly across the province. Currently, our province has over a dozen core research teams in universities and research institutions focused on humanoid robots, along with more than 40 related enterprises in the industrial chain.

The "Action Plan for the Development of the Humanoid Robot Industry in Anhui Province (2024-2027)" released last December outlines that by 2027, Anhui Province aims to establish a significant development hub for the humanoid robot industry with substantial influence in China. The plan includes creating two industrial pilot zones in Hefei and Wuhu, building provincial innovation platforms for humanoid robots, pilot verification platforms, and incubation platforms, as well as developing at least four models of humanoid robots that are representative within the country.

According to the plan, our province will introduce various humanoid robot products targeting six major fields: manufacturing, emergency response, commercial logistics, healthcare, household services, and cultural tourism services. In the future, with continuous technological advancements and the expansion of application scenarios, humanoid robots are set to become important assistants and partners in human life.

Source: Anhui Daily