Beijing: Chinese robotics companies are moving away from flashy demonstrations like running races and dancing performances and are now focusing on a more practical goal, helping with everyday household chores. This marks a new phase in the country’s fast growing robotics industry, where usefulness is becoming more important than spectacle.
At recent demonstrations in Beijing, humanoid robots were seen carrying out simple domestic tasks such as picking up objects, cleaning small areas and arranging items. These activities may appear basic, but they represent an important step towards making robots part of daily life inside homes.
Until now, many robotics companies focused on showing off speed, balance and coordination. Some robots have even completed long distance runs or performed complex movements. However, experts say that doing household work is far more difficult than these controlled performances. Homes are unpredictable environments, filled with different objects, changing layouts and unexpected situations that require careful decision making.
Developers say the main challenge lies in improving artificial intelligence and hand coordination. Tasks like folding clothes, cooking or cleaning require a level of precision and adaptability that robots are still learning to achieve. Even simple actions for humans can be complex for machines.
To overcome this, companies are now training robots using real world data collected from actual homes. Some firms have gathered information from more than 100 households to teach robots how to operate in everyday conditions. These robots are also being tested in cities such as Shenzhen, where early trials show that while they are still slow and sometimes awkward, they are gradually improving.
The push towards household robots is also driven by economic reasons. Experts estimate that domestic work accounts for a large share of economic activity, making it a major opportunity for automation in the future. Companies believe that if robots can reliably handle daily chores, they could transform how people live and work.
China is already a global leader in robotics production, and competition among companies is increasing. Several firms are developing machines that can perform multiple tasks, although most are still in the early stages and not yet ready for widespread use.
Industry analysts say the shift from performance to practicality is a sign that the technology is maturing. While fully capable home robots are not yet common, steady progress suggests they may become a normal part of life in the coming years.