Midea Group's prototype humanoid robot made its first public appearance, an 11-second video showcasing its ability to dance, make heart gestures, and respond to voice commands. Midea Group's Vice President and CTO, Wei Chang, announced yesterday the establishment of a humanoid robot innovation center, increasing investment in R&D to develop commercially viable products in the near term.
Wei Chang stated that Midea's embodied intelligence team focuses on three key areas: core components for humanoid robots, complete machine development, and the robotization of home appliances. Currently, key components such as reducers, motors, sensors, and controllers are being tested on internal prototypes. Leveraging the technological foundation acquired from the previous acquisition of Germany's KUKA Group, Midea possesses a mature R&D team in industrial robot core components, which will accelerate the development of humanoid robots.
The research scope of Midea's Central Research Institute's humanoid robot innovation center extends beyond core components to encompass complete machine development and practical application scenarios. Wei Chang pointed out that the biggest challenge for humanoid robots is addressing actual user needs, rather than merely showcasing technological capabilities. He anticipates that humanoid robot products will first find applications in industrial and commercial settings, gradually expanding to home environments.
Regarding the timeline for humanoid robots entering homes, Wei Chang acknowledges the challenges of both cost and technology. He indicated that robotization of home appliances might be a faster route to market, as it addresses specific, relatively simple tasks, resolving user pain points while being achievable in the short term. Midea will integrate its technological resources and talent teams from industrial and home appliance robotics to develop more commercially viable products in the near future.
