Galaxy General Robotics: A $160 Million Bet on China’sEmbodied AI Star
A young Chinese professor’s startup is making wavesin the embodied AI sector, securing massive funding and landing major contracts with global players. But what’s behind Galaxy General Robotics’ rapid ascent?
The recent news of a $160 million (12亿人民币) funding round for Beijing-based Galaxy General Robotics (银河通用机器人有限公司)has sent ripples through the tech world. Founded just over a year ago by 90s-born Peking University professor Wang He (王鹤), the company is rapidly emerging as a leading player in the burgeoning field of embodied AI.Their flagship product, the Galbot G1, is not just a technological marvel; it’s a testament to a business model that prioritizes real-world application and industry collaboration.
Wang He’s impressive background is no smallfactor in the company’s success. A graduate of Tsinghua University and Stanford University, he studied under renowned computer vision and embodied AI expert Leonidas J. Guibas. After returning to China in 2021, he established the Embodied Perception and Interaction Lab (EPIC Lab) at PekingUniversity before co-founding Galaxy General Robotics with robotics expert Yao Tengzhou (姚腾洲) in 2023.
Unlike many AI companies focused solely on algorithm development, Galaxy General Robotics adopts a distinctly market-driven approach. As co-founder Zhang Zhizheng (张直政) stated,the company meticulously analyzes industry needs, designing hardware specifically to address those needs before integrating the versatile capabilities of large language models. This strategy has proven remarkably effective, accelerating the transition from research and development to product deployment.
The Galbot G1, launched in June 2024, showcases this approach. Itsperformance is striking: boasting over 95% grasping success rate, even with transparent, highly reflective objects or randomly stacked items. Its adaptability extends to a wide range of tasks, from opening cabinets and hanging clothes to complex tasks like crate handling, all achieved through purely vision-guided operation—no QR codes required.
Galaxy General Robotics’ commercial progress is equally impressive. A strategic partnership with Meituan in September 2024 aims to create the world’s first smart pharmacy solution using humanoid robots. Galbot will handle tasks like picking, delivery, and restocking, enabling 24/7 unattended operation. In the industrial sector, collaborations with automotive giants Mercedes-Benz and Zeekr involve deploying Galbot for complex operations such as sunroof transfer, palletizing, and crate handling. Further applications are being explored in healthcare, education, and even household services.
The company’s success has attracted significant internationalattention. Visits from Boston Dynamics’ founder, Google executives, key members of Nvidia’s robotics team, and representatives from Hyundai Motor Group highlight the global interest in Galaxy General Robotics’ technology. Zhang Zhizheng will further showcase the company’s achievements at AICon Beijing 2024, delivering a presentationon Simulation Data-Driven General Embodied Multimodal Large Model Systems.
Galaxy General Robotics’ rapid growth and substantial funding underscore the immense potential of embodied AI in China. Their market-driven approach, coupled with Wang He’s academic expertise and the Galbot G1’s impressive capabilities, position the companyas a strong contender to shape the future of robotics and AI. The next chapter in their story promises to be equally compelling.
References:
- InfoQ article on Galaxy General Robotics’ funding round (Link to be inserted here upon availability)
- (Add other relevant sources using a consistent citation style, e.g., APA)
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