By Lu Xinyan

Xiong Rong, a Qiushi Distinguished Professor at Zhejiang University and chief scientist at the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, has been named one of the "Women Shaping the Future of Robotics 2026" by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

The annual award recognizes women who have made outstanding contributions to robotics research, industrial applications and talent cultivation. Only 11 recipients worldwide are selected each year. Xiong is the sole Chinese scientist on this year's list.

Xiong began working in robotics in 2000 after graduating from the computer science department at Zhejiang University and joining its faculty. She soon led student teams in robotics competitions, developing the university's first RoboCup soccer robot and winning multiple awards.

She subsequently focused on robot motion control, aiming to enable robots to perform complex movements with greater flexibility. In 2011, after four years of research, Xiong and her team developed two humanoid robots, Wu and Kong, capable of playing ping pong against each other.

The project attracted international attention and was widely described as the first demonstration of humanoid robots capable of sustained, rapid-response interaction. The research was later cited in a report submitted to the White House by the National Science Foundation.

In late 2023, she established the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center in Ningbo to advance both research and industrial applications for humanoid robots.

The center's "Navigator" robots have already been used in settings including garment manufacturing, automotive assembly and power grid inspection, and have entered production lines at Beko, a Turkish home appliance manufacturer.

A longtime educator, Xiong has also focused on talent development. In 2001, she helped establish a robotics learning center at Zhejiang University and developed its curriculum.

Many of her former students have gone on to lead robotics companies, including Zhu Qiuguo, founder of DEEP Robotics; Chen Shouxian, general manager of IPLUSMOBOT; and Wang Shiquan, founder of Flexiv.

Looking ahead, Xiong said her team will continue advancing embodied intelligence and developing more versatile, high-precision robotic systems to support industrial development and broader civilian applications.