Yunqi Capital | At a robotics conference watched by 250,000 people, which "people" stole the show?

250,000 visitors attended, and the number of humanoid robots doubled. The 2024 World Robot Congress, which concluded on August 25, vividly showcased the momentum and velocity of the embodied intelligence industry.

At the congress, Yunqi Capital portfolio companies Astribot, RealMan Intelligent, Keenon Robotics, and Pineus Tech debuted their latest products. This edition of Yunqi Partners revisits the standout moments these innovators delivered.

Astribot: Where Robotics Meets Chinese Aesthetics

Yunqi angel-round portfolio company Astribot unveiled the complete form of its next-generation AI robot assistant, Astribot S1, at the congress.

Despite making its first appearance at the World Robot Congress, the general-purpose robot assistant — built for versatile operation across diverse scenarios — quickly became a focal point. On the exhibition floor, it performed calligraphy, Wing Chun, and yangqin music, drawing crowds throughout. Though its exterior was unmistakably high-tech and mechanical, S1 moved with fluid grace, its gestures evoking the poise of a classical Chinese master.

This controlled yet expressive performance stemmed from Astribot's pioneering integrated hardware-software architecture, which tightly couples "AI intelligence" with "supreme manipulation capability" to achieve highly human-like behavior — enabling the robot to learn, think, and work like a person. It handled a series of high-difficulty, long-horizon, generalizable tasks with both intelligence and versatility. S1 is expected to reach commercialization in 2024.

RealMan Intelligent: Mobilizing the Ecosystem

One black-and-white robotic arm commanded outsized attention at this year's congress — look closely, and you'd spot it at over 20 booths.

The arm came from Yunqi Series A portfolio company RealMan Intelligent. As the company that first defined the ultra-lightweight humanoid robotic arm globally, RealMan brought multiple new products to the show: the GEN72 and ECO65, the RM65 high-performance arm (48V), drone-integrated arm applications, and quadruped-integrated arm applications, alongside joint modules, the AI physiotherapy robot 3.0, a single-arm compound lifting robot, and RealEye AI software — demonstrating diverse application scenarios for robotics.

The exhibition also revealed how numerous industry players, including Yunqi portfolio company Pineus Tech as well as companies like Tuixing, Aoyi, Lingyi, and Cofe+, are leveraging RealMan's mature technology and products to advance their own development strategies. With deep expertise and refined craftsmanship in integrated joints and humanoid arms, RealMan is helping break new ground in embodied intelligence R&D and commercialization.

Keenon Robotics: "Robotics + Life" Within Reach

As a leader in service robotics, Keenon created an "Embodied Intelligence Modern City" experience space at the congress, immersing visitors in robotic applications across dining, hospitality, and healthcare — offering a glimpse into the next intelligent era of service robots through grounded embodied intelligence demonstrations.

In the restaurant scenario, Keenon's T9 robot served as a flexible floor attendant, guiding guests to seats, delivering dishes, and clearing tables; meanwhile, the T10 functioned as a mobile attention-grabbing billboard, continuously circulating and engaging with the crowd.

In the hotel scenario, Keenon deployed multiple robot types — including delivery robot W3 and cleaning robot C30 — through multi-robot scheduling systems and intelligent algorithms. Operating 24/7 with rapid response capabilities, they autonomously used elevators to complete cross-floor tasks, significantly boosting hotel operational efficiency. In the hospital scenario, disinfection robot M2 and medical delivery robot X10 each performed their designated roles, enhancing hospital workflow efficiency and refined management.

Keenon's presence at the congress demonstrated strong adaptability and broad application prospects — with more diverse scenario deployments and global market expansion anticipated.

Pineus Tech: Simulation Data Powers Robot Training

Yunqi portfolio company Pineus Tech also appeared at the World Robot Congress, partnering with RealMan's humanoid arm to demonstrate the "magic" of simulation-replicated Chinese chess matches.

Pineus Tech specializes in physical simulation technology for robotics, independently developing Orca — China's first physically accurate simulator and the only platform comparable to NVIDIA Omniverse. With outstanding physical simulation capabilities and efficient intelligent training algorithms, it provides robots with virtual "brain training + physical training" grounds, making robots smarter, more agile, and less costly to develop.

From simulation data and humanoid arms to service robots and humanoid robots, Yunqi Capital's robotics portfolio is building the future across multiple segments of the embodied intelligence value chain.

We rode the wave of Robotics 1.0, and we embrace the new wave of embodied intelligence — armed with AI-powered generalization and versatility. We look forward to creating sparks that illuminate the future alongside more innovative forces.