autonomy

China has proposed formulating at least 100 key standards for the humanoid robot industry by 2028, according to a draft guideline from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The draft guideline for developing a national standard system for the humanoid robot industry will be open for public comment from August 25 to September 23. The proposed standards would cover areas such as methods for capability testing and evaluation, key technologies, platforms and systems, application scenarios and safety governance. By 2028, the draft also aims to establish a systematic, science-based and coordinated standard system, with more than 200 enterprises promoting and implementing these standards. Humanoid robots are defined in the draft as a new generation of artificial intelligence-driven intelligent terminals with human-like forms and capabilities that can autonomously perform complex tasks. Rapid development of the sector has created an urgent need for common standards covering terminology, interfaces, testing and evaluation to guide technological innovation, product development and large-scale application, according to the draft. More than 100 humanoid robot-related standards are already under development or preliminary research in China and abroad. The draft calls for standardising methodologies for grading humanoid robot capabilities. It also proposes standardising the definition of unique identifiers, coding rules and identification mechanisms for humanoid robots. The push for standards comes as China steps up efforts to deploy humanoid robots in real-world settings. Beyond technical and industrial specifications, the draft calls for standards governing ethical requirements and social-impact assessments in the development and application of humanoid robot technologies, placing safety and ethics alongside performance and commercialisation in the proposed standards system. (Xinhua) Edited by Altis Wong

Researchers have developed a new dielectric elastomer that intrinsically amplifies its own motion through resonance, enabling large-amplitude actuation without the rigid supporting structures traditionally required for soft robotic systems. The study, published in Smart Materials and Devices, introduces a materials-based strategy that could simplify the design of lightweight, energy-efficient soft actuators for robotics and biomimetic technologies.

There are more than two million robots working in China's factories - and they are scaling up fast.

Physical artificial intelligence chip infrastructure startup Embedd Ltd. says it’s ready to fix one of the most critical bottlenecks in the multibillion-dollar robotics industry after raising $2.7 million in a pre-seed round of funding. Today’s round was led by Seedcamp and saw the participation of Cocoa, Connect Ventures, 2100 Ventures, Vesna Capital, U.ventures, Underline Ventures, [...] The post Chip software automation startup Embedd raises $2.7M appeared first on SiliconANGLE .

Day1Company is launching an AI hardware and infrastructure training academy, Day 1 Talent Foundry, and recruiting experts in chips and robotics.

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The past week has been busy and fruitful for China's humanoild robot in

Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng has secured more than $900 million in a landmark funding round for its robotics unit, underscoring the growing investment in humanoid robots and embodied artificial intelligence in the country. According to XPeng, the funding represents a new record for a single private financing round in China’s embodied AI sector. The round was led by IDG Capital, with strategic backing from technology giants Tencent and Alibaba. The investment has placed XPeng’s robotics business at a valuation of more than $6.3 billion, the automaker said in a statement. Gaorong Ventures, an early investor in autonomous driving company Momenta and humanoid robot startup AgiBot, also participated in the funding round. XPeng said the fresh capital would be used to accelerate the development of robotics hardware and software, as well as the training and refinement of physical AI models. The company also plans to invest in high-quality data collection, establish end-to-end mass-production facilities and expand its robotics operations globally. The fundraising comes as XPeng steps up efforts to turn its humanoid robot project into a commercial business. The company has set a target of producing 1,000 units of its IRON humanoid robot every month by the end of the year. Initial deployments of the robots are expected to take place at XPeng’s retail stores and industrial campuses. The company plans to begin commercial sales and deliveries in China and overseas markets in 2027. XPeng CEO He Xiaopeng announced in June that he would personally take charge of the robotics business, signalling the importance the company places on the emerging sector as it works towards mass production. The push also reflects a broader trend among global automakers, particularly in China, to expand beyond conventional vehicles and invest in humanoid robotics. Automakers believe their existing expertise in areas such as sensors, software, batteries, manufacturing and supply-chain management could give them an advantage in developing and commercialising intelligent robots. The sector has attracted significant investor interest in recent months. In April, Shanghai-based embodied AI startup TARS Robotics raised more than $455 million in a pre-Series A funding round. At the time, the deal was described as the largest single private financing in China’s embodied AI industry. XPeng’s latest fundraising has now surpassed that figure, highlighting the rapidly increasing financial backing for companies seeking to develop robots capable of interacting with and operating in real-world environments.

The deal includes a US$72.31 monthly pay rise, a 400% performance bonus and an extension of the retirement age.

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