A national pilot base for embodied robot applications launched in Hangzhou on Saturday. This pilot base features more than 130 robots operating in over 30 vocational scenarios. The scenarios range from catering and power line inspections to fruit picking. Consequently the pilot base aims to foster deep collaboration with robotics firms nationwide. Li Xingteng, deputy general manager of the base operator, explained the strategy. He noted that robotics technology remains largely fragmented across different companies. Some firms excel in motion control while others focus on smart manipulators. Therefore this pilot base can promote coordinated development across the artificial intelligence field.
Hangzhou has gathered more than 700 robotics companies in its industry chain. These companies generated an output value of 106.8 billion yuan in 2025. Moreover Hangzhou accounts for over 80 percent of China’s quadruped robot enterprises. It also holds more than 50 percent of humanoid robot companies nationwide. The development of humanoid robots represents a crucial shift from virtual AI to real-world applications. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan identifies this technology as a future industry requiring strategic foresight.
Li Xingteng said the pilot base aims to drive breakthroughs at multiple levels. These levels include foundational chips, operating systems, and development tools. The ultimate goal is to cultivate an ecosystem advantage in embodied intelligence. Wang Yaonan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, also commented on the launch. He said continuous technological breakthroughs will combine with an improving industrial ecosystem. This combination will unleash greater innovation in embodied intelligence and robotics. The pilot base thus serves as a catalyst for integrating fragmented strengths into unified progress. Several robotics makers, including Unitree, call Hangzhou their home.
