Robot Evolution and Application of Composite Materials: Insights from the Spring Festival Gala Robot Performance

Introduction

On the stage of the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, the robot performance "YangkoBOT" captivated audiences nationwide with its exquisite dancing and advanced AI capabilities. This performance not only showcased the rapid development of robotics technology in China but also highlighted the extensive application of composite materials in robot manufacturing. This article aims to provide an overview of the history of robots and the application of composite materials through the lively example of the Spring Festival Gala robot's handkerchief-twirling performance.

I. History of Robots

1. Early Conceptions and Fantasies of Robots

The origins of robots can be traced back over 3,000 years, as humans have long dreamed of creating machines or artificial beings that can perform various tasks on their behalf. Although the term "robot" was only introduced as a technical term some 40 years ago, the concept has existed in human imagination for thousands of years. In ancient China's Western Zhou Dynasty, there is a story about a skilled craftsman named Yan Shi presenting King Mu of Zhou with a singing and dancing robot. In ancient Greece, the inventor Daedalus created a bronze guardian, Talos, for King Minos of Crete to guard the island. These early fantasies and attempts at creating robots mark the initial exploration of robotics technology by humans.

In more recent times, with advancements in science and technology, robots have gradually moved from fantasy to reality. In the 18th century, Japanese inventors such as Wakei Gen Daimon and Gen Shin created tea-serving dolls that could automatically deliver tea to guests. In the 19th century, Canadian inventor Moore designed the steam-powered walking robot "Androide." These robot treasures mark significant steps forward in the long journey from dream to reality in robotics.

2. Birth and Development of Industrial Robots

The earliest research into industrial robots can be traced back shortly after World War II. In the late 1940s, Oak Ridge and Argonne National Laboratories began developing remotely controlled manipulators for handling radioactive materials. These systems were "master-slave" types that could accurately "mimic" the operator's hand and arm movements.

In 1954, G.C. Devol proposed the concept of a "Universal Repetitive Operation Robot" and obtained a patent in 1961. In 1958, Joseph F. Engelberger, known as the "Father of Industrial Robotics," founded the world's first robotics company, Unimation, and participated in the design of the first Unimate robot. This was a five-axis hydraulically driven robot for die-casting, with arm control handled by a computer capable of remembering 180 work steps. At the same time, the American AMF company also began developing the Versatran industrial robot, primarily used for material handling between machines.

The 1960s and 1970s were the fastest and best periods for robot development. In 1960, the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company produced the cylindrical coordinate VERSATRAN robot capable of point-to-point and trajectory control. That same year, the first welding robots were used in industrial production. Subsequently, Unimation developed the spherical coordinate UNIMATE robot, which used electro-hydraulic servo drives and magnetic drum storage to perform nearly 200 teach-in movements. The emergence and widespread application of these robots greatly advanced the automation of manufacturing.

3. Rise of Sensory and Intelligent Robots

With the development of sensor technology and the improvement of computer performance, the second generation of sensory robots (adaptive robots) emerged. These robots have varying degrees of "sensory" capabilities, enabling them to adjust their behavior based on environmental changes. In the field of industrial robots, the application of sensory robots further enhanced their flexibility and adaptability.

Entering the 21st century, with the rapid development of AI technology, the third generation of intelligent robots has become a research hotspot. Intelligent robots possess intelligent mechanisms such as recognition, reasoning, planning, and learning, enabling them to operate in unspecified environments. Currently, such robots are still in the experimental stage but have shown tremendous application potential. For example, Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus employs advanced intelligent technology and lightweight materials for efficient movement and flexible operation.

II. Composite Materials Used in Robotics

1. Importance of Composite Materials in Robot Manufacturing

Composite materials consist of two or more materials with different properties combined through physical or chemical methods to form a new material with new properties at the macro level. In robot manufacturing, the application of composite materials is of great significance. On the one hand, composite materials have high strength, high stiffness, and low density, effectively reducing the robot's weight and improving movement efficiency and flexibility. On the other hand, composite materials have good corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance, enabling them to adapt to various harsh working environments.

2. Common Composite Materials Used in Robotics

(1) Metal Alloy Composites

Metal alloys such as aluminum alloy and titanium alloy are widely used in humanoid robot manufacturing. Aluminum alloy has a low density, high strength, specific strength close to high-alloy steel, and specific stiffness exceeding steel. It also has good casting and plastic processing properties, as well as ideal electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and weldability. Titanium alloy offers higher strength and corrosion resistance but at a higher cost. These metal alloys can be used as structural materials for robots, supporting their overall framework and moving parts.

(2) Carbon Fiber Composites

Carbon fiber composites have significant advantages in humanoid robot applications. Carbon fiber has a density of only about one-third that of steel but much higher strength. This means that while maintaining structural strength, the weight of humanoid robots can be significantly reduced. Additionally, carbon fiber composites have high stiffness, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, low thermal expansion coefficient, and high energy efficiency. These advantages make carbon fiber composites ideal for critical components such as robot arms and joints. Tesla's humanoid robot Optimus uses carbon fiber material for its lightweight body, enhancing the robot's energy efficiency and load capacity.

(3) PEEK Composites

PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) material, as a special engineering plastic, has high application potential in the field of humanoid robots. PEEK has a specific strength about eight times that of aluminum alloy and exhibits excellent physical and chemical properties such as heat resistance, wear resistance, and radiation resistance. Without compromising performance, PEEK material can reduce the weight of humanoid robots while improving their energy efficiency and load capacity. Furthermore, PEEK material has excellent tensile properties, creep resistance, insulation properties, and chemical resistance, with wide applications in semiconductors, medical fields, and new energy vehicles.

3. Application of Composite Materials in the Spring Festival Gala Robot Performance

In the Spring Festival Gala's yangko dance performance by robots, the robots needed to not only execute precise movement control but also possess good flexibility and durability. This required the manufacturing materials of the robots to possess high strength, high stiffness, and lightweight properties simultaneously. Carbon fiber composites, as the preferred material in robot manufacturing, played a crucial role in this performance.

By using carbon fiber composite materials for the robot arms and joint components, the robots could achieve efficient and flexible movement control. At the same time, the lightweight nature of carbon fiber composites reduced energy consumption during the performance, enhancing movement efficiency. Additionally, the fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance of carbon fiber composites ensured the stability and durability of the robots during long-term performances.

In addition to carbon fiber composites, other composite materials such as metal alloys and engineering plastics were also used in the Spring Festival Gala's handkerchief-twirling performance by robots. Metal alloys were used to manufacture load-bearing components and structural frameworks, ensuring the overall stability and strength of the robots. Engineering plastics were used for non-load-bearing components such as robot shells and connectors, reducing the overall weight and cost of the robots.

III. Trends in the Application of Composite Materials in Robot Manufacturing

With the continuous development of technology, the application of composite materials in robot manufacturing will exhibit the following trends:

1. Continuous Improvement of Material Properties

Researchers will continuously develop new composite materials to enhance their strength, stiffness, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and other properties. This will enable robots to exhibit greater adaptability and stability when facing more complex and harsh working environments.

2. Cost Reduction and Enhanced Environmental Performance of Materials

With continuous improvements in production technology and the application of large-scale production, the cost of composite materials will gradually decrease. Simultaneously, researchers will focus on the environmental performance of composite materials to reduce pollution and damage to the environment. This will broaden the application of composite materials in robot manufacturing and make it more sustainable.

3. Development of Multi-material Composite Technology

To meet the diverse material property requirements of robots, researchers will continue to explore multi-material composite technology. By combining materials with different properties, composite materials with excellent overall performance can be prepared. This will provide more diverse and higher-performance material options for robot manufacturing.

4. Application of Intelligent Manufacturing Technology

With the continuous development of intelligent manufacturing technology, the application of composite materials in robot manufacturing will become more efficient and precise. By adopting advanced intelligent manufacturing technology and equipment, the precise processing and molding of composite materials can be achieved, improving the manufacturing accuracy and efficiency