Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-07-30 12:00Core Insights - Midea is entering the humanoid robot market by developing its own models, contrasting with Haier's investment approach in startups [2] - The humanoid robot innovation center was established in 2024, with two models: a wheeled humanoid and a full humanoid robot [2] - The full humanoid robot design is complete and is currently in the internal R&D phase, with application validation expected to begin next year [2] - The wheeled humanoid robot "Mei Luo" has been tested in Midea's factory for various tasks, including injection molding and equipment maintenance [2] - Midea aims to integrate humanoid robots into its smart home stores for customer service and appliance demonstrations later this year [2] Industry Context - Midea's focus remains on factory applications due to the controlled environment and detailed task division, allowing for targeted skill training [3] - The company has a history in industrial robotics, having acquired KUKA in 2017, which provides a technological foundation for humanoid robot development [3] - The innovation center is advancing the technology for core components such as joints, sensors, and robotic limbs, with significant progress noted in domestic companies [3] - The software aspect of embodied intelligence is crucial for the current wave of humanoid robots, with Midea developing a robot skill learning platform [3] Technical Challenges - Domestic robot motion control standards are on par with or even superior to international levels, but complex skill operations in real-world environments remain challenging [4] - Despite advancements in task execution, there is still a gap between current capabilities and practical applications in the industry [5]