In a groundbreaking development, the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Wuhan Huaweike Intelligent Technology Co, and the Hubei Humanoid Robot Industry Alliance have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish the industry's first large-scale multimodal tactile data engine and cognitive training center in Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

Located at the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, the facility features 10 training environments, including supermarkets, homes, and laboratories. It is equipped with thousands of training objects, such as beverage bottles and gauze, to simulate real-world tasks for robots, focusing on object-grasping operations.

A humanoid robot is trained to grasp objects. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

"Tactile perception is essential for humanoid robots to perform effectively," said Zhu Qinmiao, secretary-general of the Hubei Humanoid Robot Industry Alliance. "Currently, there is a shortage of multi-scenario tactile data for humanoid robots, and companies have varying standards for tactile recognition. To accelerate the industry's growth, a standardized tactile training platform is imperative."

The tactile training center will be developed in three phases. The first phase aims to create a multimodal tactile database, which will be integrated into the humanoid robot market within the year. This will enhance the robots' tactile sensitivity, bringing them closer to everyday use.

The center will collaborate with global universities, research institutes, and companies to establish tactile standards for humanoid robots. It will also offer a developer platform for data sharing, model training, and real-world applications.

"The launch of the tactile training center increases the variety of our data collection types. In the future, humanoid robots trained by the center will have human-like dexterity," said Li Zhengxiang, chairman of the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center.