Chinese companies roll out embodied AI robots for everyday tasks

Robots powered by embodied artificial intelligence have gained significant traction in recent years, with their ability to physically interact capturing widespread attention. These systems, characterized as intelligence with a physical form, prioritize real-world interaction rather than purely digital capabilities.

Shenzhen, in south China's Guangdong Province, has emerged as a hub for this technology, with approximately 210 companies specializing in embodied AI robotics establishing operations there by the end of 2024.

Robots develop sense of touch to handle delicate objects

Robots developed at PaXini Technology's Shenzhen laboratory can pick up strawberries with remarkable precision, applying just enough pressure to secure the delicate fruit without damaging it.

"Previously, robots could see and hear, but they couldn't feel the world or control their grip strength through touch," said Xu Jincheng, founder and CEO of PaXini Technology.

The company's advances in tactile sensing provide crucial capabilities for robotic systems to interpret physical environments. Each robotic hand contains nearly 1,000 high-precision tactile sensors that collect 15 different data points — including pressure, slippage and texture — upon contact with objects. These sensors demonstrate extraordinary sensitivity, capable of detecting weight differences equivalent to a few grains of rice.

Shenzhen's status as a global electronics manufacturing hub provides robotics companies with ready access to vital components, from tactile sensors and LiDAR to servo motors and specialized robotic hands.

People visit a "Tiangong" humanoid robot at the Beijng World of Robots in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

"Previously, when we conducted research and development overseas, most components were still shipped from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," Xu noted.

The proximity to suppliers has dramatically shortened PaXini's procurement timeline. "What used to take three months now takes just a week or two," Xu said, adding that shipments of the company's tactile sensors surged in 2024, primarily for use in factory automation systems and humanoid robots.

AI models help robots tackle unpredictable fabrics

Folding clothes poses a greater challenge for robots than lifting heavy boxes because fabric changes shape unpredictably once picked up, complicating both perception and control operations.

X Square Robot, another Shenzhen-based firm, addresses this through embodied large language models that function as an intelligent brain. The company's dual-arm robots can assess fabric deformation in real time and adjust their grip accordingly, efficiently folding scattered clothing with precision.