Making better robots depends on better data capture, Chinese firm 51World says

The development of intelligent humanoid robots is being constrained by a shortage of high-quality training data, according to Beijing-based technology company 51World. Best known for digital twin and simulation technology, the company unveiled a suite of data-collection devices and platforms at a Shenzhen launch event on Tuesday. Founder and chief executive Li Yi said the lack of high-precision data was among the biggest hurdles facing the embodied AI industry. The technology refers to artificial intelligence models that enable machines to perceive, reason and interact with the physical world. The company’s new hardware includes AperEgo, a headset with a multi-camera system that captures a panoramic view of its surroundings. Sensors synchronise visual, motion and audio inputs, while additional devices for the wrist and fingers are designed to capture how hands perform tasks. A person wears the system while carrying out activities, generating data for analysis through 51World’s AperOS platform. The company said AperOS can screen out invalid data before upload for further processing, potentially lowering data-storage and computing costs. Li said integrating the hardware and software could raise precision to 99 per cent. He said greater precision would translate into improved accuracy and efficiency, and that 51World aimed to increase embodied AI efficiency across data collection, utilisation, training and generalisation. For investors, the opportunity depends on whether the tools can turn a major technical constraint into a scalable business. More reliable data could support the development of robots, while filtering unusable inputs before processing may help manage infrastructure expenses. However, the source provides no revenue, funding or customer figures, leaving adoption and monetisation unquantified. Research firm TrendForce said China’s humanoid robot market would reach 15 billion yuan (US$2.2 billion) in 2026 and grow by at least 60 per cent in 2027 as mass production ramps up and applications widen. That forecast provides a potential demand backdrop, but 51World must show that its precision claims and workflow deliver useful data for real-world robot applications.