In the forthcoming waves of Beijing's initiative to bolster China's export sector, robotic human figures are taking centerstage. These mechanical marvels, a testament to China's global dominance in various technological sectors like solar power plants, battery technology, and shipbuilding, were on full display at the World Robot Conference 2024.
The humanoid robots that captured the most attention, while reminiscent of the human form, boasted a human-like face and expressions. Critics may have raised eyebrows at certain exhibits, suspecting hidden humans within, but most of these robots were merely human-like in the head and hands, with metal joints clearly visible on the arms.
What sets these humanoid robots apart is their uncanny realism. Female robots with oversized anime eyes bear striking resemblance to popular Western sex dolls, but the spectacle doesn't stop there. One of the exhibition highlights was a silver-haired sushi chef robot, aged and venerable, whose wrinkles and veins beneath the skin blurred the line between human and machine.
This isn't mere coincidence. Humanoid robots are a vital component of Xi Jinping's "new productive forces" policy, and as such, they garnered the attention of high-ranking officials, including Premier Li Qiang, who delivered a speech emphasizing the robotic industry's vast market potential and its need to be popularized across various sectors.
To become indispensable human companions, robots require the ability to understand and respond to human emotions. They must be able to recognize facial expressions and emotional cues. To achieve this, companies like Ex-Robots have made significant strides in developing algorithms that enhance a robot's emotional and perception capabilities, as well as its language, facial expression, and gesture skills.
However, integrating language with appropriate facial expressions remains a challenge. At the World Robot Conference 2024, a research group, headed by Liu Xiaofeng, showcased an algorithm for generating facial expressions in humanoid robots. The display elicited mixed reactions, with some experiencing awe while others felt a bit uneasy interfacing with these robots, which are not yet equipped for casual conversation.
China is aggressively investing in the humanoid robot industry, with companies like UBTech Robotics planning to start mass production by the end of 2025. Major companies such as Foxconn and SF Express have shown significant interest in humanoid robots, which will be priced competitively due to innovative supply chain innovations, like the use of pliable robotic arms.
As a result, China's humanoid robot market is projected to grow exponentially, with the industrial output value projected to reach 5.3 billion yuan in 2025 and further swell to 75 billion yuan by 2029. This growth will be facilitated by initiatives such as the newly-opened training ground for heterogeneous humanoid robots in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, which will encourage technological breakthroughs in the humanoid robot sector.
In conclusion, humanoid robots are not just a novelty in Beijing's strategy to boost exports; they potentially represent a solution to China's aging and shrinking population challenge. The government's ambitious goals indicate that humanoid robots are set to become a common fixture in our daily lives in the near future, with potential applications in healthcare, education, and service industries.
