宇树科技王兴兴：在巨变前夜，坚守硬件实力与谨慎前行
In the rapidly evolving field of humanoid robots and embodied intelligence, Yushu Technology stands out as one of the most watched companies. Known for its robust hardware capabilities, Yushu has garnered attention for its exceptional performance and cost-control strategies. In an exclusive interview with Geek Park, Wang Xingxing, the founder of Yushu Technology, spoke about the company’s approach to the impending revolution in humanoid robotics.
Background and Hardware Strength
Yushu Technology’s reputation for hardware excellence is well-earned. Last year, the company’s first humanoid robot, H1, demonstrated impressive capabilities such as running, backflipping, and being kickproof, boasting nearly the highest specifications for power performance globally. This year, the company released its second humanoid robot, G1, priced at just 99,000 yuan, significantly lower than the industry average of hundreds of thousands or even millions.
This achievement is built upon years of experience in quadruped robot technology. The underlying technologies of quadruped robots and bipedal robots are interconnected, allowing Yushu to develop its humanoid robot products with just three employees and less than six months of work.
Wang Xingxing attributes the company’s hardware strength to years of accumulated knowledge and experience in both software and hardware. While still a graduate student in 2013, Wang designed the motor and control algorithms for the first quadruped robot, XDog, with a budget of less than 20,000 yuan. This was almost the world’s first technical solution for quadruped robots. In 2016, when XDog showed market demand overseas, Wang left his job to establish Yushu Technology. Soon after, Geek Park’s Variable Capital noticed Wang and led the angel round investment the following year.
The AI Factor
Despite the hardware advancements, Wang believes that AI, not hardware, is currently the greatest bottleneck in the humanoid robotics industry. The emergence of ChatGPT two years ago has opened the possibility for humanoid robots to evolve into truly intelligent entities with autonomous perception, decision-making, and execution capabilities. This could lead to general service capabilities in industrial, household, and other scenarios, potentially creating a market opportunity worth trillions.
Wang envisions a future where hardware might become secondary, with even a super-powerful robot AI model being able to function with a pile of robot parts from the trash. However, he does not intend to change Yushu’s focus and goal, which is to make good products. AI will be a minor investment and used primarily to better serve customers.
A Prudent Approach
Yushu Technology represents a cautious and practical choice among humanoid robotics companies. Wang believes that the current progress in humanoid robot AI is still very early, not even reaching the level of GPT-1. The robots lack generalizability and commercial value. The technical evolution path is unclear, and data is scarce, which means global companies’ investments in humanoid robots are far from sufficient, including giants like Tesla and NVIDIA.
The company’s approach to technology advancement is based on global collaboration, and breakthroughs are expected to happen soon. AI technology shows characteristics of abrupt, step-wise changes, and progress often occurs suddenly. For Yushu, it is crucial to stay updated and learn about new technologies to survive and maintain leadership.
Industrial Application and Future Outlook
When discussing the industrial application of humanoid robots, Wang believes that there has not been a significant change in the industry. While some companies are attempting to commercialize in industrial settings, most are still in the pilot phase, exploring the potential value of deploying robots in factories.
Yushu has been working on industrial applications, including a collaboration with蔚来’s car factory, where humanoid robots are deployed for autonomous搬运 tasks. However, Wang emphasizes that the company is patient and not rushed to deploy a large number of robots until the technology and products mature and show better commercial potential.
Regarding the entry of humanoid robots into car assembly lines, Wang acknowledges that it is challenging. The complexity of car assembly makes it a difficult task for robots to achieve the same level of efficiency as human workers. Yushu is focused on simpler industrial tasks and is not yet ready to tackle the complexities of car assembly.
In conclusion, Wang Xingxing and Yushu Technology are taking a prudent approach to the upcoming revolution in humanoid robotics. By focusing on hardware strength and waiting for AI to mature, the company aims to be a leader in the field, ready to seize opportunities as they arise.
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