A futuristic "innovation corridor", a 10-kilometer stretch teeming with cutting-edge robotics, tech startups, and top-tier research talent located in south China's Shenzhen City, has showcased embodied AI in practical use.
Known in the industry as "Robot Valley," this area has quickly evolved into a thriving ecosystem for embodied intelligence and robotics innovation.
This year, a growing number of robotics companies have shifted their R and D focus toward industry-specific and professional-grade solutions, targeting verticals like catering, manufacturing, and logistics. Tailored designing for each field has reportedly boosted operational efficiency by more than 20 percent.
In a cafe, for example, a robotic barista now crafts lattes with remarkable precision: grinding beans, frothing milk, and even creating latte art. Within seconds, a steaming cup is ready.
"Each cup it makes is highly consistent, which is probably quite different from what we achieve manually. What you see here are various experienced coffee masters we invited at the time — their expertise was used to train and develop the AI through intelligent learning," said Wang Heru, a senior marketing manager at Dobot Robotics.
The innovations extend well beyond coffee.
Nearby, a compact robot resembling a toy car quietly gets to work mowing a large lawn.
Equipped with over 50 patents, the robot scans its environment and intelligently avoids obstacles while maintaining a clean cut.
Such examples of "robots on duty" are becoming increasingly common in Shenzhen. These machines now go far beyond basic assistance -- they are beginning to transform professional sectors by delivering efficient, adaptive, and reliable service.
Shenzhen’s 'Robot Valley' showcases embodied AI in pratical use
