The domestically produced embodied intelligence "epoch-making" platform has released Bots in Shanghai, with training time nearing "minute level".

Recently, while Google, Nvidia, and others have successively released heavyweight embodied intelligence models and training frameworks, China’s research and development in embodied intelligence has also showcased its latest achievements. On March 21, the National Local Joint Innovation Center for Humanoid Robots (referred to as “National Local Center”), located in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, in collaboration with Shanghai University and Tsinghua University, launched a new generation embodied intelligence simulation platform for humanoid robots called “GeWu”. This platform can shorten the training cycle for humanoid robots, which originally took weeks, to just minutes, significantly dropping the research and development threshold and accelerating the landing of innovative results. Experts believe that this achievement is of epoch-making significance and marks a key step forward for China in the field of humanoid robot simulation.

Import the Bots into “3D game” for training.

If conventional artificial intelligence (AI) is mainly used for information processing and forming “knowledge”, then embodied intelligence seems to give AI a physical “body”, allowing it to perceive the environment and perform actions beyond just thinking. Especially for humanoid robots, embodied intelligence is the key capability that enables them to both “think” and “act”.

Developing embodied intelligence requires significant investment to enable humanoid robots to continuously interact with the real world and collect massive amounts of data. To reduce costs and improve efficiency, in addition to building physical training grounds, digital simulation technology can be utilized to create training grounds in a virtual “bit space” and import the robot’s “digital twin” to practice skills. This combination of virtual and physical training is an important method for the current development of embodied intelligence. The “Ge Wu” platform launched in Shanghai aligns with this trend, creating a key tool that connects the digital world and the physical world.

“GeWu” core developer, Associate Professor Ye Linqi from Shanghai University

The core developer of “GeWu”, Associate Professor Ye Linqi from the School of Future Technology at Shanghai University, told reporters that the platform is built on the reinforcement learning framework of Unity RL Playground, integrating multi-modal motion control technology, and supporting full-process automation from simulation training to real hardware deployment. Robot developers only need to import the robot model, and the platform will automatically complete tasks including optimizing the reward function and generating motion strategies. As a result, the traditional development cycle of several weeks can be shortened to just a few minutes.

In the demonstration, reporters saw that in the virtual space created by the “GeWu” platform, bipedal Bots, quadrupedal robotic dogs, and wheeled Bots that seem to walk on fire and wind, are freely engaging in walking, running, jumping, and other training, corresponding to real scenarios such as home service, industrial inspection, and disaster rescue.

Not only that, but “Ge Wu” can also simulate extreme terrain, high-speed motion, or heavy-load tasks, helping developers explore the performance limits of the Bots for further optimization of hardware and software capabilities.

Fully unleash the creativity of grassroots developers

According to Jiang Lei, a well-known expert in embodied intelligence and the chief scientist at the National Geographic Center, the release of “Ge Wu” has epoch-making significance, primarily because it can greatly promote the transition of Bots from the laboratory to practical applications.

Chief Scientist Jiang Lei of the National Land and Resources Center

According to reports, major overseas companies such as Nvidia have recently released embodied models and training frameworks, attracting widespread attention. However, it should be noted that the related technologies and tools are mainly aimed at expert-level developers, with a high barrier to entry. In contrast, the “格物” platform is aimed at grassroots developers. Users do not need to undergo special training before using it and can easily get started; moreover, “格物” does not have high requirements for computing power, and it can run on CPU chips without the need for powerful and expensive graphics processing units (GPUs).

To truly understand the significance of the “格物” platform in serving grassroots developers, one might refer to Deepseek. Among the many impacts and insights brought to the world by this phenomenal AI innovation, one very important point is to believe in the power of grassroots, as Deepseek itself was born out of the “non-mainstream AI circle”. As Jiang Lei said, the key driving force for the development of embodied intelligence may not be at the “top of the pyramid”; what is most important is to fully unleash the creativity hidden in the “foundation” and open-source communities.

It is worth mentioning that the “GeWu” platform has completed its open-source release simultaneously with its public launch – Ye Linqi has generously contributed his innovative achievements to the open-source community “OpenLoong” operated by the National Geographic Center, hoping to fully unleash the value of technology and empower developers in universities, research institutions, and start-ups as widely as possible.

Successfully applied to multiple star Bots.

According to Ye Linqi, the “Ge Wu” platform has been successfully applied to the development of multiple Bots, including the quadruped robot Go 2 from Yushu Technology, which has achieved agile jumping and dynamic balance control through this platform.

In addition, in the domestic bipedal robot Tinker project, this adorable robot that resembles the Disney animated character “WALL-E” also benefits from “GeWu”, forming a robust walking and disturbance resistance capability.

As a hub for artificial intelligence, Shanghai has always provided strong support for the development of humanoid robots. The release and open-source of the “GeWu” platform will help Shanghai further improve the AI industry ecosystem and provide developers with the innovative environment they need. Jiang Lei stated that the vision of the National and Local Center is to enable everyone to develop humanoid robots, and hopes that the “GeWu” platform will attract global developers to use it and participate in promoting the development of humanoid robots after its release.

In order to better support the developer community, the National and Local Center also announced on the same day the establishment of an open fund aimed at the research and development of embodied intelligence, soliciting projects from young scholars in colleges, research institutions, and enterprises, with a funding amount of up to 500,000 yuan.

(Source: Shanghai Observer)

Source: Eastmoney

Author: Shangguan News