A humanoid robot from "Walker" series of UBTECH conducts sorting work at the Beijng World of Robots in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

A Shenzhen-based robot producer recently revealed a collaborative practical training program for humanoid robots at an electric vehicle factory, where dozens of its robots are performing coordinated tasks across multiple scenarios and job types.

UBTECH said this is the world's first such initiative, representing a major step toward building a general-purpose "swarm intelligence system" for humanoid robots.

Dozens of humanoid robots produced by the company are currently conducting multi-unit, multi-scenario and multi-task collaborative training at Geely's Zeekr 5G smart factory.

During this training session, the company introduced "swarm intelligence" to humanoid robots for the first time. They designed a software architecture for humanoid robot groups called BrainNet and additionally, the Internet of Humanoids (IoH), a central hub for humanoid intelligence networking. 

Humanoid robots are rapidly advancing and being increasingly applied in industrial settings. Generally speaking, these robots are equipped with visual, auditory and other sensing technologies, enabling them to recognize objects and understand simple commands. However, their perception accuracy and stability in complex environments still require improvement, Guo Tao, an angel investor and senior AI expert, told the Global Times.

Regarding mobility, they can perform basic walking and grasping actions, though their flexibility and precision are inferior to skilled workers. 

In terms of intelligent interaction, these robots can handle basic collaboration and simple commands, but still struggle with complex communication, Guo noted.

Future robotic systems will face larger, more complex demands, requiring attention not just to scale, but also to consider reliability, stability, versatility, intelligence and security, Qiao Hong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said during two sessions, according to China News Service.

China's robotics technology has advanced rapidly, significantly narrowing the gap with international leading standards. Over the past three years, China's industrial robot installations have accounted for more than half of the global total, while humanoid robot technology is developing rapidly, Qiao noted.