On Friday, the National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center in Shanghai introduced a new embodied artificial intelligence (AI) simulation platform called "Ge Wu." This platform is designed to facilitate the transition of humanoid robots from research environments to market applications, according to statements made by the center.

The "Ge Wu" platform aims to provide a high-performance simulation environment for the development of humanoid robots by integrating advanced reinforcement learning frameworks and multimodal motion control technologies.

This technology will offer a comprehensive solution for robot development and testing, catering to research institutions, universities, and businesses.

Jiang Lei, chief scientist of the innovation center, stated that the key innovation includes a universal reinforcement learning framework and automated model adaptation technology, allowing a single codebase to support the training of over 100 different types of robots without additional programming.

In conjunction with the announcement, Zhang Hongtao, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, revealed plans for international standardization research on humanoid robots.

This initiative involves partnerships with leading enterprises and research organizations, including Humanoid Robot (Shanghai) Co. and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute.

The group is seeking to establish a subcommittee for humanoid robots under the ISO/TC299 (Robotics Technical Committee).

The embodied AI sector in China is approaching a pivotal development phase, bolstered by supportive policies, ongoing technological advancements, and collaboration among tech developers.

Shanghai, recognized as a major hub for technological innovation, plays a critical role in China’s robotic landscape, producing one-third of the country's robots, which in turn account for one-third of global production.

Earlier this year, Shanghai introduced the country's first heterogeneous humanoid robot training facility, designed to promote interdisciplinary advancements in robotics, AI, and machine learning.

Currently capable of training over 100 robots, the facility aims to expand its capacity to 1,000 by 2027. Furthermore, the center plans to collaborate with local robotics companies to aggregate a comprehensive dataset of 10 million high-quality physical data entries by 2025, enhancing the applicability of humanoid robots across various sectors, including manufacturing and public services.

Recent advancements in embodied AI were highlighted by Unitree Robotics with a video release showcasing its humanoid robot, Unitree G1, performing a side flip.

Meanwhile, Midea Group introduced a humanoid robot prototype capable of multiple actions, such as handshakes, water delivery, heart gestures, dancing, and more, illustrating the growing functional versatility of these robots.

As competition in the embodied AI sector intensifies, China's humanoid robot industry is rapidly advancing.

The introduction of new humanoid robots suggests that the nation is entering an early phase of mass production in this domain.

Forecasts indicate that China's humanoid robot market could reach approximately 75 billion yuan (around $10.6 billion) by 2029, representing 32.7% of the global market.

The sector is projected to expand to 300 billion yuan by 2035.

As of the end of 2024, it is estimated that nearly 100 companies in China are engaged in humanoid robot development, with more than 30 planning to initiate commercial production in 2025. The annual Government Report emphasizes the commitment to fostering large-scale applications of advanced AI models, alongside the development of new generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment, which includes AI-enabled robots.