China's Midea unveils humanoid robot for household tasks

Midea Group, a leading Chinese home appliance company, has introduced a new humanoid robot prototype. This development follows the opening of its innovation center focused on robotics research and development. The robot was showcased at a media event on March 17, demonstrating a variety of skills, including responding to voice commands and performing tasks like shaking hands, dancing, and opening bottle caps. According to Wei Chang, the Chief Technology Officer, Midea is prioritizing the creation of essential components for humanoid robots, such as sensors, motors, and controllers. These components are currently being tested on prototype models. The company is also working on combining robotics with home appliances to help speed up the use of smart technology in households. The newly opened Central Research Institute’s humanoid robot innovation center will help enhance research efforts. Chang noted that the center will focus on developing complete machines and exploring their practical applications. Midea's chairman, Fang Hongbo, stated that the company’s robotics sector has generated over $4.1 billion in revenue. Despite advancements, Midea faces challenges in making humanoid robots affordable and capable of meeting real-world needs. Chang believes these robots will first appear in commercial settings before being adopted by households. He emphasized the need for robots to provide practical solutions that fit well into everyday life. Midea aims to combine knowledge from both industrial and home appliance robots to create products suitable for consumer use. However, as household tasks require complex skills, humanoid robots still have a long way to go in matching human abilities for daily tasks.