Robots Enter Commercial Circles? 4S and 7S Stores Make Their Debut, Future Life Beyond Imagination!
Recently, there have been quite a few exciting developments around us. It is said that robots now have 4S and 7S stores, just like the familiar automotive 4S stores! The first humanoid robot 7S store in the country has just officially opened in Wuhan’s Optics Valley, and even CCTV made a special trip to report on it.
These robot stores are not just simple retail places. They call it a “7S store,” which adds three major functions—solutions, demonstrations, and training—on top of the traditional 4S store model. To put it simply, you can not only buy robots but also watch performances, learn operations, and even have after-sales issues resolved in one stop.
Walking into the store, the scene is quite lively! More than twenty types of humanoid robots developed in Hubei are neatly arranged, each with its own abilities. Some can drum and dance, while others can play soccer, with every movement being precise and agile, leaving the onlookers mesmerized.
These robots not only perform but also handle serious tasks. Some patrol factories, carefully checking for any abnormalities in equipment temperature and sound; others assist in hospitals with guiding and consulting, or restocking in supermarkets; and some can serve as receptionists or salespeople, helping customers purchase drinks or hand over products with just a touch on the screen.
In terms of pricing, robots are no longer unattainable luxury items. The smaller household version starts at just over 70,000 yuan; the wheeled dual-arm robot, about the height of a person, is priced around 200,000 yuan; and the most advanced bipedal humanoid robot costs around 500,000 yuan. It seems that ordinary families can also look forward to welcoming robots into their homes.
This robot 7S store in Wuhan’s Optics Valley is located in a very accessible area, right in the subway commercial circle. The store has also specially created a “robot supermarket,” allowing the public to operate and experience the convenience that robots bring to life firsthand.
Store manager Hu Longdan of the Optics Valley humanoid robot 7S store expressed that they opened the store in the commercial area to make it easier for the public to access robots, preparing for a future where robots enter thousands of households. This idea is indeed commendable; technology should not be out of reach.
Now, not only in Wuhan, but a robot 4S store has also opened in Changsha, Hunan. It seems that the trend of opening robot stores is rising nationwide, and it won’t be long before we have such robot shops right at our doorstep.
While robot performances are entertaining, their true value lies in solving real problems. For instance, in the field of elderly care, robots can become close companions for seniors, helping with tasks like serving tea and delivering medicine, or simply providing company. This is truly heartwarming news for our elderly friends.
Among the audience were not only curious citizens but also groups of students and teachers from Hubei Urban Construction Vocational Technical College, who came to investigate and are planning a school-enterprise cooperation project. Young people are showing great interest in these new technologies, which is a positive sign.
Experts predict that 2025 will be the “year of mass production” for humanoid robots. The market size for embodied intelligence in China is expected to reach 5.295 billion yuan, with the humanoid robot market reaching 8.239 billion yuan, accounting for about half of the global market. These figures are indeed exciting.
However, Li Zhengxiang, chairman of the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, also admitted that while the development of humanoid robots in China is very rapid, it will still take 5 to 8 years of technological accumulation and improvement before they truly enter households. The development of any new technology requires time, and we must be patient.
The emergence of these robot stores breaks the barrier between technology and ordinary people. Robots that were once only seen on television can now be witnessed and touched in shopping malls. This experience is more authentic than any advertisement.
One day in the future, perhaps every household will have a robot assistant. They will help us with chores, take care of the elderly and children, and even become our friends. Just thinking about this vision is exciting.
The ultimate goal of technological development is to serve humanity and make life better. The emergence of robot 4S and 7S stores is an important step towards the popularization of technology. Next time you go shopping, consider visiting a robot store to experience the atmosphere of future life.