Remote Humanoid Robot Operation Becomes Growing Job in Shenzhen
Original: Operating a Humanoid With Your Body Is a Hot Job in China’s Hardware Capital
Why This Matters
Demonstrates emerging remote robotics labor market and data collection for autonomous systems in China's manufacturing sector.
IO-AI Tech, a Shenzhen startup, employs workers who remotely control humanoid robots using VR headsets and motion-tracking gear. The company gathers training data to enable autonomous robot operation in factories, convenience stores, and other workplaces across China's hardware manufacturing hub.
At IO-AI Tech, located 45 minutes north of downtown Shenzhen, workers operate humanoid robots remotely using VR headsets, handheld controllers, and motion-tracking equipment. The company deploys robots for tasks like shelf stocking and item picking in factories and convenience stores, while simultaneously collecting training data to advance autonomous operation. IO-AI Tech's technology translates human movements to different robot forms, addressing the challenge that dozens of humanoid models exist in the Chinese market. The company's algorithms blend human control with autonomous functions because robots and humans differ in shape, size, and weight—without independent movement capability, robots risk losing balance. Demonstrations included controlling 10 robotic hands from different manufacturers with a motion-tracking glove, and operating a Unitree humanoid in a simulated apartment environment to perform tasks like removing and folding clothing. Jack Sewing Machines, a Chinese clothes manufacturing equipment maker, partnered with IO-AI Tech to train two-armed robots for ironing tasks on production lines. Shenzhen's position as home to thousands of manufacturers provides an ideal environment for prototype development and refinement, according to cofounder Si Chin.