CASIA Builds Robot Mega-Factory, Cutting Humanoid Development to Two Weeks

The Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASIA) has developed a humanoid robot design and assembly "mega-factory." According to the team, this facility can automatically complete AI-driven hardware design and select software algorithms, then rapidly validate them in a high-precision environment. The system aims to streamline development from concept to verification.

The team says the "mega-factory" compresses the humanoid robot R&D cycle from six months to about two weeks. By integrating automated design tools and high-precision testing, it reduces manual iteration and engineering overhead. This could make humanoid development faster and more repeatable.

CASIA also showcased the Q4 brain-inspired intelligent robot. This platform mimics human mechanisms, structures, and functions, spanning from neural circuits to muscle activation. Such biomimetic design is intended to improve motion control and adaptability. The Q4 robot is part of broader efforts to replicate biological intelligence in machines.

Experts note that for humanoid robots to move from laboratories to broad applications, they must meet three requirements: high performance, low cost, and mass production. The total cost of a complete robot needs to be kept under 250,000 yuan (about $34,500) to enable widespread adoption.