Beijing opened its doors on Friday to the 2025 World Robot Conference (WRC), spotlighting the future of embodied intelligent robots and their transformative role across industries. The five-day event, co-hosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organisation (WRCO), has brought together over 200 leading robotics companies to present more than 1,500 cutting-edge innovations.
At the opening ceremony, WRCO President Qiao Hong released the “10 Trends of Embodied Intelligent Robots 2025” report, outlining key advancements in cognition, decision-making, and safety. The study underscores the synergy between physical practice, simulation, and world models in embodied cognition, as well as the growing impact of multimodal large models on robotic decision-making. Other focal points include AI-powered robot design, software-hardware integration, intelligent manufacturing, robot swarm collaboration, and ethical development frameworks.
The conference also revealed the 10 most promising application scenarios for humanoid robots, ranging from industrial manufacturing and shipbuilding to petrochemical inspection, power plant operations, and emergency response. In hazardous environments, humanoid robots can conduct high-precision tasks, monitor risks, and collect real-time data, reducing safety threats for human workers.
In commercial and domestic settings, robots are enhancing customer experiences in hotels and shopping malls and assisting with household chores, offering valuable support for children and elderly residents. Equipped with visual recognition, mobility, and gripping functions, they are also boosting efficiency in agricultural production and complex manufacturing sectors.
With the theme “Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent,” WRC 2025 blends forums, exhibitions, competitions, and networking opportunities, positioning humanoid robots as a cornerstone of future industry and everyday life.
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