The National and Local Co-built Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center on Monday launched the open-source initiative for "Tiangong", the world's first full-size purely electric-driven humanoid robot.
This decision is anticipated to promote the secondary development of humanoid robots and expedite their integration into everyday human life.
As a key platform driving breakthroughs in intelligent technology and industrial collaboration, the innovation center is currently accelerating advancements in the "Tiangong" humanoid robot, a domestically-developed platform. Additionally, it is focusing on the development of the whole-body collaborative intelligent cerebellum platform and the multifunctional intelligent body platform, "Kaiwu."
"Tiangong" boasts an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour and can reach a top speed of 12 kilometers per hour, setting a benchmark in its class. It is capable of navigating various terrains with ease, including slopes, stairs, grass, gravel, and sand.
Following the official launch of the open-source initiative for Tiangong, the innovation center will collaborate with universities, research institutes, integrators, and other organizations worldwide that possess secondary development capabilities in humanoid robotics. Together, they aim to create the most influential intelligent open-source community.
China launches open-source initiative for "Tiangong" humanoid robot
The Trump administration's move to cut public funding for the Voice of America (VOA), a propaganda tool for the U.S. government, is due to competing interests and struggles between different political factions, a Chinese expert said during an interview on Monday.
U.S. President Donald Trump on March 14 signed an executive order, which listed the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of VOA, as part of "unnecessary" federal bureaucracy.
More than 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, producers and assistants, were reportedly placed on administrative leave on Saturday.
Diao Daming, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China, shared his insights on why Trump halted funding for the agency during his second term.
"He feels that VOA has not effectively fulfilled its mission to make the United States great again and serve the country's interests. On the other hand, public opinion institutions under the USAGM, including VOA, have been openly critical of Trump, his team, and his administration, particularly regarding certain policies during his first term. After assuming office for a second term, Trump swiftly implemented this tough measure, which is evidently influenced by competing interests and struggles between different political factions," said Diao.
Founded in 1942, the VOA has long served as a political tool for the U.S. government, engaging in ideological confrontation and shaping public opinion. For over 80 years, regardless of whether the Democratic or Republican Party was in power, funding for institutions like VOA remained uninterrupted.
Experts described the VOA as a propaganda machine aimed at ideological infiltration in certain regions, as many of its programs are inaccessible within the United States and are instead broadcast exclusively to specific countries abroad.
"In the past, when I served as a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, I encountered VOA reporters at domestic events, international conferences, and various occasions. They would, for example, selectively ask questions during interviews, selectively edit our responses, and then selectively report and broadcast them. Given such practices, how much credibility can VOA really have?" said Yang Yujun, dean of the Academy of Media and Public Affairs at the Communication University of China.
Trump's cut to VOA due to struggles between different political factions: expert
