Inside China’s ‘robot school’ where humanoid machines are learning everyday tasks
Inside China’s ‘robot school’ where humanoid machines are learning everyday tasks
Nestled within Wuhan’s East Lake High-tech Development Zone, often referred to as the “Optics Valley of China,” a cutting-edge facility is training humanoid robots to perform routine activities. These machines are being taught skills such as brewing coffee and handling household duties, mimicking the process of human education.
Virtual Reality-Driven Training
Experts in the region are gathering vast datasets by manually guiding robots through physical exercises. Human instructors wear VR headsets and control devices to direct the machines’ motions in real time, effectively translating human actions into robotic learning. According to Qu Qiongbin, an AI robot trainer, the robots absorb movement patterns by replicating human gestures. “The data is transferred to the cloud, and once validated as a dataset, it is integrated into the robot’s system, enabling it to learn from the recorded actions,” she explained.
“It’s a rewarding experience. When the robot successfully completes a task, I feel a strong sense of achievement, much like watching a child grow,” Qu added.
Real-World Skill Development
Within the facility, robots are immersed in environments designed to mirror daily life—such as living rooms and industrial workspaces—to refine their abilities. Repetitive training sessions, involving thousands of repeated actions, help build the datasets necessary for their progress. “We simulate realistic, one-to-one interactions to teach robots, repeating actions hundreds or even tens of thousands of times to ensure mastery,” said Yang Xinyi, a project leader at Data Fusion Technology.
“The goal is to create humanoid robots capable of functioning seamlessly in real-world settings,” Yang noted.
Visitors can now experience the robots’ capabilities at the 7S Humanoid Robot Store in Wuhan. Here, the public observes how the machines interpret commands and execute basic tasks, offering a glimpse into the future of automation and human-robot collaboration.
