At 9 a.m. on February 26, after a one-hour drive from downtown Chengdu, reporters arrived at the 'Zhuge Space' Artificial Intelligence Industrial Ecosystem Demonstration Zone. Though secluded and quiet, inside EIR Sichuan Embodied Humanoid Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., the scene was bustling with activity: humanoid robots navigated over broken wood and executed complex maneuvers, while algorithm engineers closely monitored screens to fine-tune parameters.

Robots demonstrate dance moves

During CCTV's recent Spring Festival Gala, four humanoid robots performed martial arts routines with fluid, coordinated movements, drawing widespread attention. This sparked public curiosity: when will robots become reliable companions in daily life?

Training Over 10 Hours Daily, Forged Through Relentless Practice

Inside the company, various robots were neatly arranged. "We have both full-size and compact models—some excel in mobility, while others focus on emotional interaction." said CEO Feng Zhenyu. The company's first product, 'Tianxingzhe-1', was launched in December 2024. In early videos, the robot walked unsteadily; today, it can hop and easily traverse gravel paths.

Trainers are training robots

This progress stems from daily, rigorous training. In the simulation training zone, engineers repeatedly run virtual scenarios where robots sprint, jump, and dance. After each action, the system generates performance data, enabling the team to clean erroneous data, inject new inputs, and iteratively validate motion logic until they identify the optimal method for actions like 'standing up'. "Even the simplest straight-line walking requires support from hundreds of behavioral data points", Feng noted.

Simulation results must ultimately be validated in real-world settings. On the physical training ground, a 1.65-meter-tall humanoid robot was navigating obstacles such as wooden blocks and foam. "This tests its dynamic environmental perception and gait adjustment capabilities." Feng explained. The team schedules at least 10 hours of training per day and has developed three generations of motion control algorithms for their robot 'Aiqiu', achieving breakthroughs in complex maneuvers like autonomous standing.

If motion control determines whether a robot 'can move and act', its intelligence level dictates whether it 'can understand and integrate'. Echoing the heartwarming human-robot interaction in the Spring Festival Gala skit 'Grandma's Favorite', EIR Sichuan's emotionally interactive robot 'Aiqiu' has demonstrated precise voice command recognition and sound source localization during testing. The team is continuously refining its multimodal perception technology to enhance emotional and contextual understanding.

Accelerating Construction of Dedicated Training Grounds: From 'Stage Star' to 'Daily Companion'

The team's ultimate goal is to move robots out of the lab and into everyday life. To achieve this, the company is focusing on three fronts: building realistic training environments, defining application roles, and exploring commercialization pathways.

Downstairs, the Sichuan Humanoid Robot Training Ground—a joint initiative led by Tianfu Jiangxi Laboratory and co-developed by the company—is under accelerated construction. It will feature simulated scenarios replicating utility corridors, household layouts, and other real-world settings. "We’ll break down action sequences from daily production and life, then train robots intensively in these simulated environments to equip them with practical, task-oriented capabilities", said Cheng Qingmiao, Director of Partnership Development.

The company has also mapped out clear 'career paths' for its robots: full-size models will serve industrial applications requiring high strength and adaptability in complex environments, while emotionally interactive robots will be deployed in eldercare, cultural tourism, and other interaction-intensive settings. "We tailor training content to each product’s characteristics, ensuring they deliver maximum value in their designated 'roles", Cheng added.

While training forms the foundation, securing real-world 'job placements' is critical. Before the Lunar New Year, the company partnered with leasing and cultural tourism enterprises; post-holiday, it plans to expand into large shopping malls, exhibitions, and eldercare facilities. Cheng's notebook is filled with a growing list of prospective partner companies. She believes that interaction data gathered from real, unstructured environments not only refines algorithms but also allows clients to tangibly experience the robots' value, thereby breaking down perceptual barriers.

On the office whiteboard, key milestones for the year are clearly marked, with events related to 'expanding beyond Sichuan and going global' prominently highlighted. "This is our top priority this year." Feng stated, emphasizing the team’s ambition to showcase the cutting-edge capabilities of 'Sichuan-made' humanoid robots on high-profile international platforms alongside the world's leading enterprises.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】