Core Insights - The 2024 World Robot Conference (WRC) showcased a significant increase in humanoid robots, with 27 models exhibited and over 200 participating companies, marking a substantial growth from the previous year [1][2] - The event attracted 1.3 million registered visitors, indicating a broad interest from both industry professionals and the general public [2] - Many exhibitors emphasized the transition of robots from performance roles to practical applications in labor, highlighting a shift in focus towards productivity [2][4][10] Group 1: Exhibition Highlights - The number of humanoid robot manufacturers exceeded 50, with a total of 1,500 exhibits, an increase of 600 from last year, and over 100 new product launches [1] - Notable performances included the UTree G1 robot demonstrating advanced boxing skills and the Acceleration Evolution robot showcasing improved soccer-playing capabilities [5][6] - The BionicBee robot from Festo demonstrated advanced capabilities in autonomous flight, challenging previous perceptions of micro-robot capabilities [6] Group 2: Industry Trends - Companies like UBTECH showcased multiple robots designed for practical applications, including sorting and guiding, indicating a growing focus on robots as laborers [8] - The emergence of robots with wheeled bases or AGVs for enhanced stability and load capacity reflects a trend towards adapting robots for factory environments [9] - The commercial viability of humanoid robots is expanding, with companies like Cloudwise and Qilin Robot demonstrating successful implementations in service sectors [11] Group 3: Challenges and Future Directions - Despite advancements, humanoid robots still face limitations in versatility and adaptability to complex tasks, with many applications remaining single-scenario focused [12] - The industry is grappling with challenges in embodied intelligence, as current models struggle to scale effectively compared to large language models [12][13] - Companies are actively pursuing advancements in VLA (Visual Language Action) capabilities to enhance the functionality of robots in various sectors [13]