In recent months, humanoid robots have showcased an impressive array of skills, including smashing nuts, shaving a cucumber, folding laundry, and tidying up around the office. Now, thanks to a new video from China-based Robot Era, we can add “conquering a world monument” to this rapidly growing list. The video, released this week, features the XBot-L, which the company claims is the first humanoid to climb the Great Wall of China. This is a bold assertion, as most humanoids are still being tested in labs or utilized in factories, not navigating tourist trails.
While the XBot-L may not match the speed of the H1 humanoid from fellow Chinese company Unitree, or the agility of Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, it demonstrates remarkable capabilities. The robot moves steadily along the famous wall, handling broken pavement and uneven surfaces. It also easily manages stairs and even performs a few tai-chi moves at one of the wall’s guard towers. According to Robot Era, the XBot-L excels in navigating unpredictable surfaces and dimly lit guard towers, thanks to its proprietary reinforcement learning (RL) tech.
“Perceptive RL algorithms help to strengthen the robot’s perceptive and decision-making capacity in the face of unfamiliar terrains,” said Yue Xi, co-founder of Robot Era, in a statement. “The robot can recognize complex road conditions and adjust its walking stance on time.”
The video highlights the humanoid’s advanced navigational and balancing systems but also reveals some duct tape around its midsection. This could be a nod to the waist bags worn by tourists or a makeshift solution to a technical issue. Regardless, it adds a touch of humour and humanity to the otherwise sleek robotic display.
While this achievement might not drastically advance the field of humanoid robotics, it is a clever promotional effort by Robot Era, a robotics company incubated by the Institute of Cross-disciplinary Information Sciences of Tsinghua University in Beijing. By showcasing a humanoid robot tackling one of the world’s most iconic monuments, the company normalizes the presence of robots in everyday situations.
As humanoid robots begin to move from factories and labs into our daily lives, one can’t help but wonder about the implications. Will tourist attractions charge different admission prices for robots? Could Disney offer a “bring your humanoid to the park for free” day? Might the Eiffel Tower provide free passes for robots that can climb the structure instead of using the elevator? These questions provoke thoughts about the future integration of humanoid robots into society.
The XBot-L’s climb of the Great Wall of China is a significant milestone in the field of robotics. It showcases the potential of humanoid robots to navigate complex environments and perform a variety of tasks. While there is still much progress to be made, the Robot Era’s achievement is a step towards a future where humanoid robots are a common sight in our daily lives. As we continue to witness these advancements, it’s exciting to imagine the possibilities and the new challenges that lie ahead.
