In a groundbreaking display of technological endurance, Zhengzhou-developed humanoid robots claimed top positions at the world’s first humanoid robot half marathon on April 19. “Walker II” from Zhuo Yide Robotics, invested by Zhengzhou Zhongyuan Science City, secured third place while the EAI team representing Henan Province’s Zhongyu Embodied AI Laboratory completed the race in fifth position with a time of 4 hours, 50 minutes, and 33 seconds. This exceptional performance spotlighted Zhengzhou’s rapidly advancing position in the global humanoid robotics landscape.
- Historic Achievement in Humanoid Robot Marathon
The competition marked a significant milestone in embodied intelligence development, with Henan making substantial breakthroughs through these advanced humanoid robots. The event aligns with China’s national strategy outlined in the 2025 Government Work Report, which explicitly prioritized “artificial intelligence plus” initiatives while newly incorporating key terms including “large models,” “embodied intelligence,” and “intelligent robots.”
Henan currently hosts 12,685 robotics-related enterprises, ranking eighth nationwide, with Zhengzhou accounting for 4,999 such companies – the highest concentration in the province. This technological advancement is systematically supported by provincial policies including the Henan New Generation Artificial Intelligence Industry Chain Cultivation Action Plan, Henan “AI+” Action Plan Implementation, Henan Robot and CNC Machine Tool Industry Chain Development Plan, and the recently launched Henan Embodied Intelligence Industry Development Action Plan. These initiatives collectively position robotics among Henan’s 28 key industrial chains.
- Zhengzhou’s Robust Humanoid Robot Ecosystem
Zhengzhou’s strategic advantages in policy support and industrial clusters have accelerated investment in core robotics technologies. At Zhongyuan Science City, critical research platforms like the Zhongyu Embodied Intelligence Laboratory have emerged alongside leading enterprises including Zhuo Yide Robotics and Zhongyuan Dynamics. The district actively leverages artificial intelligence development opportunities through concentrated resource allocation.
Complementing this ecosystem, Zhengzhou’s High-Tech Zone hosted the 2024 World Robot Contest Finals in January, capitalizing on its strengths in intelligent sensors (perception systems) and artificial intelligence (decision-making systems). The zone has attracted numerous robotics enterprises along the value chain including Qingzhi (Zhengzhou) Robotics Innovation Center, Henan Elsom Intelligence, Zhengzhou Turing, and Zhengzhou Kehui.
Simultaneously, Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone enacted the “Several Policy Measures to Support AI Industry Development,” featuring 18 specific incentives and establishing specialized industrial funds. The policy provides up to 10 million yuan in subsidies for innovative AI enterprises and projects, substantially accelerating technological R&D and industrial transformation. This multi-district development model positions Zhengzhou as a rapidly emerging hub for humanoid robot innovation.
- Diverse Applications of Zhengzhou’s Humanoid Robots
Industrial applications demonstrate remarkable sophistication in Zhengzhou’s robotics sector. At Zhongyuan Dynamics Intelligent Robotics, 3D industrial cameras with proprietary algorithms overcome traditional limitations of 2D imaging. Chief Technology Officer Dr. Wan Lihong explained: “Traditional systems only recognize fixed points, but our 3D technology captures spatial information to handle disordered, tilted, or stacked materials.” This innovation has been implemented at Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery production lines, where humanoid robots autonomously identify and handle randomly positioned steel plates without human intervention.
At UBTECH (Zhengzhou) in Zhongyuan District’s Zhima Street, the humanoid robot Walker X showcases advanced capabilities including handshaking, retrieving beverages from refrigerators, and performing Tai Chi routines. Standing 172cm tall and weighing 76kg, this human-sized humanoid robot can walk while carrying 15kg loads. “The Walker series represents China’s first commercialized full-size humanoid robot,” stated a UBTECH Zhengzhou operations representative. “We lead globally in humanoid robot patents and have achieved commercialization breakthroughs.”
Notably, the championship-winning humanoid robot from the marathon – Tianji Ultra – was developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center where Shenzhen UBTECH serves as founding and managing unit. Its speed has increased from 6km/h to a peak of 12km/h. UBTECH’s Zhengzhou operations focus on practical deployment: “Robot performances belong to the past. Our new direction centers on bringing humanoid robots into households and workplaces.” The Walker S1 series has already been deployed at Zhengzhou BYD and Foxconn smart factories, handling tasks including large cargo transport, assembly, quality inspection, and flexible logo placement. Equipped with binaural fisheye cameras enabling 360-degree environmental monitoring and six arrayed tactile pressure sensors in its hands, this humanoid robot operates with human-like precision.
- Core Competitiveness: Independent R&D
Independent research forms the foundation of Zhengzhou’s robotics advantage. “Self-developed algorithms constitute our technological moat,” emphasized Dr. Wan of Zhongyuan Dynamics. The company maintains a multinational R&D team with doctoral talent from Germany’s Hamburg University, Shanghai, and Zhengzhou, continuously advancing algorithm development. Similarly, Zhuo Yide Robotics – a core enterprise incubated by the Zhongyu Embodied Intelligence Laboratory – assembled a 16-member R&D team featuring graduates from renowned global universities, collaborating closely with the laboratory on key technology breakthroughs.
Professor Li Qingdu, Executive Director of Zhongyu Embodied Intelligence Laboratory and founder of Zhuo Yide Robotics, outlined their research focus: “We concentrate on embodied intelligence and humanoid robot technologies, developing system architectures encompassing ‘brain, cerebellum, body, and systems’ to overcome technological bottlenecks.” UBTECH has accumulated substantial intellectual property, holding 5,400 authorized patents globally including 484 overseas patents, with invention patents comprising 57.87% – ranking first worldwide in humanoid robot patents. A UBTECH Zhengzhou representative highlighted: “We rank among the few companies globally capable of mass-producing servo drives across torque ranges.” The company’s embodied intelligence breakthroughs earned the 2024 World Internet Conference Leading Technology Award, and their collaboration with Zhongyuan District will establish China’s first “Robot-Embedded Industrial Town.”
- Building a Collaborative Ecosystem for Robotics
Industry experts propose strategies to amplify Zhengzhou’s robotics advantages. Li Dongfang, Executive Vice Chairman of Zhengzhou Mechanical Engineering Society, recommends establishing a collaborative ecosystem: “Creating a ‘Central Plains Robotics Collaborative Innovation Center’ with shared pilot platforms would accelerate development. We should leverage Henan’s 7+28+N robot and CNC machine tool industrial chain while focusing on Zhengzhou’s distinctive advantages.”
Regional coordination features prominently in development proposals. “Zhengzhou-Luoyang collaboration could establish a robotics industrial corridor, combining Luoyang’s industrial strengths with our capabilities,” Li noted. “Furthermore, partnering with Wuhan, Hefei, and other cities within Zhengzhou’s two-hour high-speed rail economic circle could create an industrial innovation belt through shared technology markets and talent mobility mechanisms.”
Nie Fajie, Vice President of Henan Robot and CNC Machine Tool Industry Association, advocates an “internal aggregation, external introduction; Henan application, Henan production” approach: “Henan’s humanoid robot development should concentrate on application scenarios with significant potential like agriculture, foundational industries, and elderly rehabilitation.” He emphasizes industrial restructuring: “Optimizing our industrial layout will create a pattern with leading enterprises driving progress and specialized champions providing support. Prioritizing core component manufacturing and breakthrough innovations will enhance value across the chain through upstream-downstream collaboration.”
Zhengzhou’s comprehensive approach – combining policy frameworks, research infrastructure, industrial applications, and regional collaboration – establishes a formidable foundation for leadership in the rapidly evolving global humanoid robotics industry. The marathon achievements represent merely the initial demonstration of capabilities emerging from this systematically cultivated ecosystem.