The Beijing Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center has been elevated from a municipal platform to a joint national-municipal initiative. The upgraded center will lead advancements in embodied intelligence technology, focusing on reducing R&D costs, setting industry standards, and driving the global application of embodied intelligence products.
In 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology identified humanoid robots as a key area for future technological competition and economic growth.
In April 2024, the center introduced the "Tiangong" robotics platform, featuring the world's first full-size, all-electric humanoid robot capable of human-like running. Tiangong's leading full-body coordination and mobility allowed it to navigate complex terrains, including slopes, stairs, and gravel. In August 2024, Tiangong made its debut at the World Robot Conference, becoming the first embodied intelligence robot to perform long-range tasks live at an international event. Since then, Tiangong has undergone two iterations, making significant breakthroughs in embodied perception, interaction, and behavior, with advanced hand-eye coordination and interaction capabilities.
The center is now accelerating the development of the "Kaiwu" platform, which will integrate over 100 core skills to execute complex, multi-step tasks. Alongside this, a national-level data collection and training facility is being developed to build a high-density, high-quality dataset of over 1 million entries, which will be open to the industry.
Collaborating with companies such as JD.com, ZTE, and Audi FAW, the center is testing embodied intelligence solutions in logistics, manufacturing, and government services.
"In the future, the center aims to become a globally influential hub for embodied intelligence innovation and a demonstration platform for its applications," said a manager from the center.