Screen shot of Spark on the official website of Hengbot. (Photo/hengbot.com)

Chongqing - During China's "two sessions" this year, a desktop robot dog from the Chongqing delegation became a spotlight item.

Named Sparky, this robot dog not only has flexible joints that allow it to mimic real dog movements, but it also features dance and emotional interaction capabilities.

"Come, shake hands." At the command, the robot dog extends one of its front paws for a handshake, simulating the interaction between a pet dog and a human.

On March 3, Wang Zhijie, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and Director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, showcased the Sparky robot dog to other deputies.

This robot dog was developed by Hengbot. Kang Xiaohu, the company's co-founder, revealed that the robot dog can perform movements close to a real dog. Thanks to the company's self-developed core control module, Neurocore, which significantly enhances movement flexibility, the dog can perform advanced moves like jumping, frog swimming, and dancing with remarkable precision.

In 2022, Hengbot was established at the Mingyue Lake Sci-Tech Innovation Base in Chongqing. Both of its founders are from the "Post-95s" generation. In addition to Kang Xiaohu, the other co-founder and CTO is his senior high school friend, Song Peiheng.

Song has had a strong interest in robots since childhood. A graduate of Chongqing University with a degree in mechanical engineering, he has won over thirty science and technology competition awards, developed more than ten robots independently, and holds more than ten patents.

"From the very beginning, the company received strong support from the base, including office space, R&D funding, and policy assistance," Kang said. Thanks to Chongqing's industrial foundation and policy support, the company was able to quickly transform its products from the lab into mass production.

Last year, after debuting at the World Robot Conference, Sparky quickly made its way to international exhibitions like IFA and the CES, becoming a symbol of Chongqing's intelligent manufacturing going global.

Chongqing's story about robots

Since the handkerchief turn performed by Unitree robots during the Spring Festival Gala went viral, robots have become the new darling in various industries. In Chongqing, in addition to the pet robot dogs, many companies focused on developing robots for specialized industries have also rapidly developed with the support of policies.

On March 2, at the Chongqing Marathon, robots not only became the stars of the opening ceremony but also wore sportswear to race alongside 35,000 runners on the track.

Recently, the Chongqing Yunyang County Public Security Bureau's special police team officially deployed a robot dog for patrol and public safety related tasks. This "police dog" is equipped with a camera, tablet, speaker, and other gear, enabling it to perform patrol duties, anti-fraud campaigns, risk identification, and hazardous material inspections.

Furthermore, the explosion-proof quadruped robot Sevnce Robotics Co Ltd developed is now used in explosion-proof operational environments such as those in the oil and chemical industries. The product has been exported to countries including Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Malaysia.

In recent years, Chongqing has introduced policy support for the development of robotics, clearly defining the direction for industrial growth and providing support measures, thereby offering enterprises and research institutions a clear path for development.

As a manufacturing hub, Chongqing is focused on building the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system, upgrading its industrial structure, and striving to become a key national center for advanced manufacturing. Within this framework, several industries are expected to become important application scenarios for embodied intelligent robots, providing solid ground for the industry's development.

In 2024, Chongqing's robot industry reached over 20 billion yuan, with quadruped robots accounting for more than 30 percent. A complete chain has been formed, spanning from core components to finished machines, and from algorithms to applications.

(Diyiyan TV-CQNEWS contributed the Chinese version of this report.)