Wuhan: China has begun testing robotic housekeepers in real apartments, marking a significant step in the development of domestic robotic technology. A Chinese humanoid robotics company has initiated trials of its domestic robots in a real-world setting in Wuhan, moving away from the confines of a controlled laboratory environment.
According to Thai News Agency, the SeeLight S1, or Shiguang S1 humanoid robot, commenced pilot testing for real-world home cleaning in Wuhan, Hubei Province, last week. This innovation was developed by the startup GigaAI, a joint venture between Huawei and the Hubei Provincial Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. The project aims to address labor shortages and support China's aging society.
The robot, with an intelligence level akin to a 3-4 year old child, is capable of voice interaction and can assist with numerous household tasks, including meal preparation, dishwashing, table clearing, laundry, bed-making, and even bathroom cleaning. It uses embodied AI to connect digital systems to its body, enabling it to perceive its environment and make independent decisions without human guidance. Equipped with intelligent sensors, the robot will stop moving immediately if it detects a child or pet nearby.
The testing aims to enhance both the hardware and software of the robots by addressing challenges such as obstacle avoidance, cleaning accuracy, battery life, and noise reduction during operation. The objective is to overcome common issues found in existing home robots, such as inefficient navigation systems and inadequate cleaning performance.
GigaAI has started delivering the first 100 robots to employees for home testing. The company plans to launch registration for free home trials for families in Wuhan in the first half of 2027, with a focus on households with elderly members, children, or pets. The long-term goal is to control costs and offer the robots at a price below $15,000 USD when commercial sales commence in mid-2027.