Significant Improvement in Reducing the Uncanny Feeling Compared to Existing Humanoids
Natural Walking Achievable Through Neural Network Models
As major domestic conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung Electronics enter the humanoid robot competition, Chinese robotics companies are showing rapid growth. Recently, a robot with a human-like gait has emerged in China, attracting attention. Unlike existing humanoids, this robot has significantly improved its awkwardness.
As major domestic conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung Electronics enter the humanoid competition, Chinese robotics companies are showing rapid growth. Recently, a robot with a human-like gait has emerged in China, attracting attention. ENGINEAI
On the 13th, foreign media including China's Sina News reported that ENGINEAI, a startup in Shenzhen, China, released a walking test video of the humanoid robot 'SE01' with a human-like gait, drawing public interest. Most notably, the robot stands at a height of 170 cm and weighs 55 kg, similar to a human, and its natural walking style caught people's eyes.
Netizens who saw the robot walking commented, "It looks so natural that it seems like CGI or a composite." In fact, videos posted on social media show SE01 walking very similarly to a human, presumably being remotely controlled by a person from behind. What stands out is the robot walking naturally on a regular street rather than in an experimental space. Passersby were seen taking out their phones to film it, fascinated by the sight.
Until now, humanoids often walked awkwardly with stiff postures. However, SE01 demonstrates a walking mechanism similar to human gait, minimizing the uncanny feeling typical of humanoid robots. The main reason SE01 gives such a human-like impression is that it uses aerospace-grade aluminum alloy material, making the body sturdy yet lightweight. Additionally, the research team increased reliability by controlling costs and enabling natural robot movements without relying on traditional 6-dimensional force sensors and planetary bearing roller screws.
As leading domestic conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung Electronics enter the humanoid competition, Chinese robotics companies are showing remarkable growth. Recently, a robot with a human-like gait has emerged in China, attracting significant attention. ENGINEAI
The company stated about SE01, "We aim to develop a general-purpose humanoid AI hardware similar to humans. Through a self-developed harmonic joint module set combined with AI reinforcement learning and imitation learning neural network models, natural walking is possible." They added, "We pursue smooth, fast, and elegant walking, breaking away from the stereotype that robot walking is unnatural." The SE01 model is expected to be improved and released for industrial use in the future. The company said it can perform tasks such as precise assembly and cargo transport, enhancing efficiency in manufacturing and logistics sectors.
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