China’s Robot School Uses VR Training

In Hefei, China, a specialized training center is teaching robots to master real-world tasks through immersive instruction. Known as an embodied intelligent robot training environment, the facility uses human instructors wearing VR headsets and motion controllers to guide robots in developing fine motor skills like tool use and assembly.

Robots practice 200 action sequences daily, collecting real-world data to improve machine learning models for autonomous operation. The approach emphasizes adaptability, training robots to handle varied tasks such as logistics, warehouse handling, sorting, home assistance, and customer service.

Unlike purely simulated training, this method exposes robots to unpredictable conditions like uneven surfaces and dropped tools, helping them generalize skills across settings. As China’s first public platform of its kind, the school provides shared resources and supports collaborative development, aiming to accelerate the creation of versatile, autonomous robots for industrial and domestic use.