Robot School” in Hefei, capital of eastern China’s Anhui Province, is an embodied AI and robotics training facility launched in the Yangtze River Delta Digital Technology Demonstration Park. It provides China’s only public pre-training platform that uses virtual reality (VR)-enabled human demonstrations to teach robots practical skills.
Engineers wearing VR headsets and motion-sensing controllers—like trainer Wu Meiling—record daily action data (~200 motion sequences per robot) in scenarios such as screwing, wrench handling, box logistics, parts picking, home services, retail guidance and folding clothes. These motion-capture datasets feed machine learning pipelines, enabling robots to transition from imitation to autonomous operation with accuracy and adaptability.
The training environment mimics a real-world factory floor, exposing robots to unpredictable variables and reducing deployment risks. Robotic “students” gradually master not just mechanics—such as torque application—but also perceptual recognition (identifying the correct screw from variations). Physical mishaps, like breakdowns or falls, are expected and essential for robust generalization across contexts.
Operated by the International Advanced Technology Application Promotion Center, the school offers three collaboration models—joint, independent, and service