Humanoid Rehabilitation Robots to Meet China’s Labor Shortages

Chinese robotics firm Fourier Intelligence has announced plans to produce 100 of its GR-1 humanoid robots by the end of this year.

Designed to perform a variety of tasks including carrying patients and picking up objects, the robot is intended to meet demands in health care and rehabilitation sectors as China faces an aging population and ongoing labor shortages.

The first 100 units of GR-1 will not have all the functions intended for the final product but will have only basic capabilities and will be sent to research and development labs for further development.

The robot stands just over 5 feet tall and can carry objects weighing up to 110 pounds. The robot can also autonomously navigate around a space, perform tasks such as picking up and holding objects such as bottles or utensils, and communicate with patients using large language models.

"As we move forward, the entire GR-1 could be a caregiver, could be a therapy assistant, can be a companion at home for the elderly," said Zen Koh, Fourier Intelligence CEO.

GR-1 was presented at the World AI Conference in Shanghai in June, where Tesla’s Optimus robot was also unveiled.

Fourier has a specific focus on rehabilitation technology. It offers a robotic exoskeleton and has a limb rehabilitation robot in the pipeline to support patients suffering a loss of motor functions.