Beijing launches three-year action plan to promote development of embodied AI

Beijing has recently unveiled a three-year action plan to promote the high-quality development of embodied artificial intelligence (AI), fostering it as a new driver of the city's economic growth.

Embodied AI integrates AI into physical bodies such as robots to enable them to perceive, learn and dynamically interact with the environment like humans. Relying on computation and logical reasoning, it can continuously learn, adapt and complete tasks by perception, action and environmental feedback, thus improving autonomy and practical application in real world.

Issued on Feb. 28, the action plan will support embodied AI through four dimensions, namely, technological innovation, platform support, scenario-driven applications, and ecosystem optimization.

According to the action plan, Beijing will strive to make key technological breakthrough in developing large models and chips empowering embodied AI to improve the capability of embodied AI robots in handling complicated tasks. The action plan also said that a universal embodied AI data collection platform will be built to support multiple scenarios, enabling the collection of larger-scale data at a lower cost. This platform aims to address the challenges faced by companies involved in embodied AI.

"In order to make key breakthrough in data collection, this year the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Administrative Committee will rely on new research and development institutions to build a data collection platform for embodied AI, to create a training ground that integrates virtual and real-world embodied intelligence data collection. We will set up a shared mechanism for joint operation and open access of data. By the end of the year, we expect to build and open up 3 million high-quality universal embodied AI datasets," said Han Jian, an official with the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, and Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.

In addition, Beijing will fully leverage the role of embodied AI across multiple scenarios, including scientific research, education, business, manufacturing, and personalized applications. The plan also explores its use in home services and elderly care. The city will strive to cultivate a 100-billion yuan (around 14 billion U.S. dollars) embodied AI industrial cluster.

"We hope that by 2027, Beijing can establish an embodied AI industry ecosystem with international influence. We hope hundreds of key technological achievements across upstream and downstream industrial chains can be made for embodied AI, including large models, intelligent chips, and full-body control systems. The goal is to basically achieve independent production of embodied AI products. We aim for no less than 100 large-scale applications of embodied AI in these major fields: scientific research and education, industry and business, as well as personalized services," said Han.

"We aim to nurture at least 50 core embodied AI companies and establish more than two dedicated industrial parks for embodied AI, truly supporting embodied AI to become another driver of Beijing's economic growth," he said.

Beijing launches three-year action plan to promote development of embodied AI

Tiangong Ultra, an upgraded version of the China-made "Tiangong" humanoid robot, is currently undergoing tests in preparation for a half-marathon next month in Beijing.

The race, set for April 13 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in the capital city's southeast, will feature both robotic and human athletes competing on the same route but on separate tracks to ensure safety for all participants.

The competition is open to global robot companies, research institutes, robot clubs and universities. So far, 23 organizations have signed up for the competition.

Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong Ultra has a bigger size, longer legs, and a stronger hip compared to its old version. In addition, unlike Tiangong, which has two iron sheets as feet, Tiangong Ultra wears a pair of "shoes" to minimize impact on its feet and ankle joints from running, according to engineers at the center.

"Aside from upgrades to Tiangong's body and structure, we have also greatly improved its motion algorithm, strengthening its capabilities for gait planning, body coordination, and motion control," said Wei Jiaxing, director of branding and public relations at the center.

In a race between Tiangong and Tiangong Ultra, the upgraded version demonstrated larger strides, a more stable running form, and a significantly higher speed.

"Its highest speed can reach 12 kilometers per hour. Considering the stability and endurance of the Tiangong robot when running outdoors, we may slightly reduce the speed. But we are still very confident that it can complete the half marathon," Wei said.

Bolstered by strong capital investment, China' robotics industry is growing rapidly, with versatile applications becoming increasingly prominent across a wide range of fields, including industrial automation, healthcare and service industries.

According to a report on the humanoid robot industry released at the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China's humanoid robot market scale was approximately 2.76 billion yuan (about 381.28 million U.S. dollars) last year.

By 2029, it is expected to expand to 75 billion yuan (about 10.36 billion U.S. dollars), which would account for 32.7 percent of the global market.

Humanoid robot set to run Beijing half-marathon