In this chilly April, a grand event that was supposed to be a collision of technology and sports passion—the world’s first humanoid robot half marathon—unexpectedly turned into a large-scale “robotic comedy show.” When the Yushuo robot, which once amazed the national audience on the Spring Festival Gala stage with its handkerchief tricks, like a “top star” in the robotics world, confidently crossed the starting line, it fell heavily in a “dog eating poop” position the next second.
Seeing this, the staff rushed over like firefighters, flustered as they tried to help it up, attempting to get it to continue running. The scene was reminiscent of a teacher dragging a reluctant child to school. Unfortunately, the Yushuo robot had completely “socially died” this time; even when forcibly “led to run,” it ultimately had no chance of ranking and could only become the comedic relief of the event. This made one wonder: are these robots really not sent to perform a special episode of “WALL-E,” specifically to entertain us?
Capital’s Inner Game: Is the Robotics Track Playing the “Emperor’s New Clothes”?
While everyone was still immersed in the fervent fantasy of the robotics track, Zhu Xiaohu, founder of Jinsha River Venture Capital, acted like a cold-hearted “master of pouring cold water,” mercilessly issuing a warning: “Humanoid robots can do flips, but where is the commercialization?” This soul-searching question was like a thunderclap, instantly causing a stir in the capital circle.
According to reliable sources, Zhu Xiaohu’s fund has quietly withdrawn from several embodied intelligence projects. He bluntly criticized: “Clients are either universities, buying them for research; or state-owned enterprises, placing them in the lobby as decorations. Such a business model cannot be sustained at all.” In his view, the bubble in the humanoid robot track has grown so large that it is about to float to Mars; the current market is merely a carnival built on capital, lively yet devoid of real commercial value.
The Harsh Truth: Have We Overestimated Robots or Underestimated Reality?
As the robot marathon was in full swing, with robots constantly “flipping over,” a report from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves. The report clearly stated: “Mainstream humanoid robot products have achieved ‘standing firm, walking steadily, and running fast,’ capable of showcasing acrobatics and folk dances on stage, as well as skillfully moving heavy objects and screwing bolts in factories.” This starkly contrasts with the robots’ clumsy appearances in the marathon, which could “run a few steps and fall” or “lie down” after three steps, leading one to question whether they were even talking about the same type of robot.
A representative from a participating company, after the competition, bitterly complained: “Our robots perform like athletes in the lab, easily completing 10 kilometers, but once in an open environment, they seem cursed, unable to last even 2 kilometers. Even a gentle breeze can trip them up, causing them to ‘twist an ankle’ and completely disobey commands.” This reflects the significant gap between robot technology in the lab and the real world. In the “greenhouse” of the lab, all conditions are idealized, with no complex terrain or unpredictable weather, allowing robots to perform effortlessly. However, the real world is like a challenging “battlefield,” filled with unknown factors that instantly expose the robots’ technical shortcomings.
From Horse-Drawn Carriages to High-Speed Trains: The Survival Rules of Robots’ “Primitive Society”
Looking back at history, when trains were first invented in the early 19th century, their speed was slower than that of leisurely horse-drawn carriages, emitting thick black smoke and appearing clumsy and ridiculous, leading people to mock and question them. But who would have thought that just a few decades later, trains would undergo rapid development, continuously increasing speed to become the “dominant force” in land transportation, with today’s high-speed trains making travel efficient and convenient.
Today’s humanoid robots are like the newly born trains, still in the “primitive society” stage, learning to walk. Experts point out: “Mocking robots for not running fast now is as shortsighted as horsemen laughing at trains for emitting black smoke back then. Technological breakthroughs are never achieved overnight; they often begin with seemingly clumsy first steps.” At this stage, although robots may not perform satisfactorily, every time they get back up after a fall and improve after a malfunction is a solid step towards the future.
Perhaps in the near future, when technological bottlenecks are gradually broken, and robots truly achieve intelligence and autonomy, they will be able to showcase their skills in various fields like today’s high-speed trains, becoming indispensable assistants to humanity. Therefore, we might as well give these “wobbly” robots a little more time and patience, waiting for the day they grow and transform.
[Thoughtful Commentary]
Just as trains evolved from “horse-drawn carriages” to “Fuxing trains” over 150 years, China’s robotics industry also needs time to complete its transformation from “sci-fi toys” to “production tools.” After all, who can guarantee that the next competition won’t feature a champion that can do flips?