China’s Humanoid Robots: From Mockery to Technological Triumph
China’s ambitions in humanoid robotics can be traced back to the 863 Program launched in 1986 to advance the country in high-tech fields.
Xianxingzhe (Forerunner)
Xianxingzhe, also known as Forerunner, is a Chinese humanoid robot developed by the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) and unveiled in 2000. It is recognized as China’s first full-scale humanoid robot capable of walking upright on two legs. Standing about 140 cm (4 feet 7 inches) tall and weighing around 20 kg (44 lbs), Xianxingzhe could walk, turn, and gesture using onboard sensors and computer control.