Domestic robots undergo pre-job training in Yichang
2026-10-15 21:10:42
By Ma Yuanchen
The Hubei Intelligent Robot Industry Development Training Center has opened in Yichang, where robots equipped with domestically developed core electronic systems practice tasks such as organizing wardrobes, inspecting industrial parks, and handling containers. Like new employees undergoing pre-job training, the robots complete simulated tasks and undergo testing and adjustments before being deployed to pharmacies, chemical industrial parks, and factories.
Inside a simulated unmanned pharmacy, an engineer places an order for a bottle of glycerin solution. A robot moves to the medicine cabinet, retrieves the product, and packages it. The entire process takes two minutes.
"The back-end system records the storage location of each medicine and communicates with the robot. After receiving an order, the robot locates the medicine independently. It uses a camera mounted on its hand for precise positioning and performs a second check to prevent errors," said Liang Yanjie, an engineer at Hubei Intelligent Robot Industry Development Co., Ltd.
After training, the robot can automatically select the appropriate method for handling different products. It uses suction cups for boxed medicines and switches to grippers for bottled products. The gripping and suction points are optimized through extensive model training.
The robots' precise and stable performance is supported by an electronic architecture developed entirely in China. Domestic robot manufacturers have long relied on imported electronic systems, which can have drawbacks such as separate cognition and motion control systems, complex hardware, higher failure rates, and delayed responses.
The Yichang-based company has integrated the robots' cognition and motion control systems, simplifying hardware and optimizing circuit layouts to improve operational stability.
"This electronic architecture acts as the robot's nervous system, much like a computer's operating system, and it is entirely domestically developed," said Jin Shijie, head of the training center. "More hardware components mean a greater risk of failure. Our integrated design reduces the number of components and lowers that risk. The system operates at a signal response frequency of 4 kilohertz, meaning it can provide feedback in just 1/4,000 of a second."
Using its self-developed electronic architecture, the company established the training center to prepare robots for real-world applications. Each robot undergoes repeated exercises covering visual perception, decision-making, path planning, and practical operations. The training helps robots adapt to complex working environments while reducing errors and safety risks after deployment.
In a simulated chemical industrial park, intelligent inspection robots independently plan patrol routes and monitor potential hazards involving electrical cabinets, pressure gauges, and pipeline leaks. The robots can adjust their movement to navigate uneven terrain. When abnormal readings are detected, they automatically take photos, record information, and send alerts to the park's dispatch center.
Engineer Wei Lai said these inspection robots are expected to be widely used for safety monitoring in chemical industrial parks.
According to Jin, the center recreates real-world working environments at full scale. Technicians adjust the robots' movement paths, recognition capabilities, and operating procedures to meet the requirements of different jobs. The goal is to ensure the robots are ready for deployment once they complete their training.
Currently, eight types of robots are undergoing training at the center.
Construction of a supporting robot manufacturing facility began in September. Once completed, the facility will integrate the assembly and production of robots with domestically developed electronic systems. Together with the training center, it will help establish a complete industrial chain covering research and development, practical training, and robot manufacturing, supporting the growth of Yichang's intelligent robotics industry.
The Hubei Intelligent Robot Industry Development Training Center has opened in Yichang, where robots equipped with domestically developed core electronic systems practice tasks such as organizing wardrobes, inspecting industrial parks, and handling containers. Like new employees undergoing pre-job training, the robots complete simulated tasks and undergo testing and adjustments before being deployed to pharmacies, chemical industrial parks, and factories.
Inside a simulated unmanned pharmacy, an engineer places an order for a bottle of glycerin solution. A robot moves to the medicine cabinet, retrieves the product, and packages it. The entire process takes two minutes.
"The back-end system records the storage location of each medicine and communicates with the robot. After receiving an order, the robot locates the medicine independently. It uses a camera mounted on its hand for precise positioning and performs a second check to prevent errors," said Liang Yanjie, an engineer at Hubei Intelligent Robot Industry Development Co., Ltd.
After training, the robot can automatically select the appropriate method for handling different products. It uses suction cups for boxed medicines and switches to grippers for bottled products. The gripping and suction points are optimized through extensive model training.
The robots' precise and stable performance is supported by an electronic architecture developed entirely in China. Domestic robot manufacturers have long relied on imported electronic systems, which can have drawbacks such as separate cognition and motion control systems, complex hardware, higher failure rates, and delayed responses.
The Yichang-based company has integrated the robots' cognition and motion control systems, simplifying hardware and optimizing circuit layouts to improve operational stability.
"This electronic architecture acts as the robot's nervous system, much like a computer's operating system, and it is entirely domestically developed," said Jin Shijie, head of the training center. "More hardware components mean a greater risk of failure. Our integrated design reduces the number of components and lowers that risk. The system operates at a signal response frequency of 4 kilohertz, meaning it can provide feedback in just 1/4,000 of a second."
Using its self-developed electronic architecture, the company established the training center to prepare robots for real-world applications. Each robot undergoes repeated exercises covering visual perception, decision-making, path planning, and practical operations. The training helps robots adapt to complex working environments while reducing errors and safety risks after deployment.
In a simulated chemical industrial park, intelligent inspection robots independently plan patrol routes and monitor potential hazards involving electrical cabinets, pressure gauges, and pipeline leaks. The robots can adjust their movement to navigate uneven terrain. When abnormal readings are detected, they automatically take photos, record information, and send alerts to the park's dispatch center.
Engineer Wei Lai said these inspection robots are expected to be widely used for safety monitoring in chemical industrial parks.
According to Jin, the center recreates real-world working environments at full scale. Technicians adjust the robots' movement paths, recognition capabilities, and operating procedures to meet the requirements of different jobs. The goal is to ensure the robots are ready for deployment once they complete their training.
Currently, eight types of robots are undergoing training at the center.
Construction of a supporting robot manufacturing facility began in September. Once completed, the facility will integrate the assembly and production of robots with domestically developed electronic systems. Together with the training center, it will help establish a complete industrial chain covering research and development, practical training, and robot manufacturing, supporting the growth of Yichang's intelligent robotics industry.
<caption>An engineer trains a robot at the center.Photo by Wang Fei
Yang Chunyan, Wang Fei and Wang Jing also contributed to this story.
