Hundreds of "smart volunteers" are on duty! Humanoid robots have become the "leaders" of conference affairs?

The 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Meeting officially kicked off on March 27.

This year's Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference takes "New Quality Productivity and Global Scientific and Technological Cooperation" as its annual theme. It has five major sections and 128 events, including forum meetings, technology transactions, results releases, cutting-edge competitions, and supporting activities, involving more than 100 countries and regions. The guests will discuss how scientific and technological innovation can cultivate new quality productivity and provide new ideas and inspiration for global innovation and development.

This year's forum annual meeting will focus on cutting-edge fields such as AI big models, embodied intelligence, quantum technology, biomedicine, 6G, brain-computer interfaces, etc., and will set up 10 brand forums and 50 innovation forums to deeply discuss cutting-edge technological progress and industrial development trends, bringing participants a technological feast of "technology everywhere" and "stronger innovation flavor".

Through activities such as technology trading conferences, cutting-edge technology competitions, and the release of major scientific and technological achievements, this year's forum annual meeting will build a "government, industry, academia, research, application, and finance" cooperation platform to promote the connection and industrialization of major scientific and technological achievements.

Hundreds of "smart volunteers" appeared as humanoid robots took up their posts

When you enter the main venue of the Zhongguancun Forum, the first thing that greets you is the reception robot Nia, who is smiling and waving at you.

With the intelligence brought by the deep integration of neural network deep learning, emotion recognition algorithms, face recognition technology and human-computer interaction design, Nia, with her agile posture, can provide detailed answers to every participant's questions with her excellent interactive capabilities such as micro-expressions and language.

Going further ahead, a flourishing "technology tree" in front of the venue catches the eye. This "tree" attracted a long queue last year, and this year it has been completely upgraded with more flourishing "branches", providing participants with more screens and a better AIGC interactive experience.

Halfway through the walk, you can have a "fierce fight" with a chess-playing robot; listen to the explanation of AI by the bionic digital human "Dr. Hu" who can "read your words and expressions" and simulate your every expression; when you are tired, have a cup of authentic coffee and tea from "Xiaoguan Coffee" and "Xiaoguan Tea Art". After scanning the code to place an order, every step from production to delivery to your hands is completed by a robot...

According to Xu Ruohua, brand director of the Zhongguancun Forum operating company, this year's forum annual meeting focuses on the application of humanoid robots. Focusing on five core scenarios such as welcoming guests, communicating, hosting, performing, and serving, more than 100 representative products from 15 robot companies are selected to create an atmosphere of "robots are everywhere" and provide on-site services for participants: "Not only can you see robots running and dancing, playing musical instruments and singing, writing poems and painting, and providing services and companionship, you can also enjoy the 'technology show' performed by multiple robots."

Covering multiple industrial fields, my country's humanoid robots are accelerating their evolution

As one of the representative areas for developing new quality productive forces, the humanoid robot industry, which integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, high-end manufacturing, and new materials, is currently entering a period of rapid growth, linking thousands of industries and becoming a new high ground for scientific and technological competition among countries around the world.

Data shows that as of June 2024, there are more than 160 humanoid robot manufacturers in the world, of which more than 60 are Chinese companies, accounting for 37%. China is the country with the largest number of humanoid robot manufacturers in the world. Domestic humanoid robot applications have also covered multiple fields such as industry, medical care, and home services.

The humanoid robots that made their debut at this year's Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference represent the latest achievements and technological strength of my country's industry. They are applications in the direction of artificial intelligence embodied intelligence (EAI). They are expected to become disruptive products after smartphones and new energy vehicles. They will enter all aspects of our lives, profoundly change human production and lifestyle, and reshape the global industrial development landscape.

At the opening ceremony of this Zhongguancun Forum, the top ten major scientific and technological achievements of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference were released. Among them, among the achievements of Beijing's artificial intelligence innovation and application, the "Tiangong 2.0" robot brought by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (a national and local co-constructed Embodied Intelligent Robot Innovation Center) made its debut to the public: it will shine in the fields of industry and special operations.

As the first humanoid robot in China that can achieve adaptive walking on complex terrain, it can adjust its gait in real time to pass through complex terrains such as high steps, slopes, stairs, and bumpy roads steadily. It is equipped with a self-developed dual-battery fast-swap system, which can replace batteries in standing scenarios, and combined with multi-condition energy consumption control technology, it has achieved a battery life far exceeding its predecessor. At the same time, it has industrial-grade upper limb load capacity, with both arms carrying a terminal steady-state load of 16 kg, and dynamic operation accuracy reaching the millimeter level.

According to Liang Yihan, brand public relations specialist at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, "Tiangong 2.0" can also be used in vehicle inspection or power inspection in some dangerous scenarios in the future: "Through visual recognition technology, it can make intelligent decisions and correct tasks."

In the retail sector, Beijing Galaxy's universal embodied large-scale model robot Galbot can be responsible for 24-hour unattended operations, contributing to the first embodied smart pharmacy solution launched in cooperation with its partners.

▲Galbot robot application scenario in pharmacy

According to Wu Wentao, a relevant person in charge of Galaxy General, with advanced technologies such as embodied large models and end-to-end navigation, Galbot has helped solve problems such as insufficient manpower, limited service hours, and high operating costs in traditional pharmacies, and realized unmanned operation of the entire chain from replenishment to pickup, achieving 24-hour unmanned operation, precise inventory management, improved supply chain efficiency, and optimized user experience.

Source: Beijing Science and Technology News

Written by: Reporter Ji Jingjing

Photography and graphics: Zhang Xinghai