Embodied intelligent robot Xue Ba 01. [Photo provided to China Daily]

An embodied intelligent humanoid robot developed by the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology was recently admitted to the Shanghai Theatre Academy as a doctoral candidate in its drama, film and television program, aiming to further explore the integration of generative artificial intelligence and theatrical art creation.

The admission ceremony took place at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that recently concluded in Shanghai, making it the first embodied intelligent robot in China to enroll as a doctoral student.

Named "Xue Ba 01", the robot features excellent lightweight and endurance. Developed by a team led by Li Qingdu, a professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the robot was produced by Shanghai DroidUp Co and its appearance and styling were designed by Yang Qingqing, a professor at Shanghai Theatre Academy.

"The robot is essentially an AI agent with a physical entity. We are trying to make it like a 'bionic man' that has a realistic and natural humanlike appearance, expressions, body movements and interactions," said Li, who is also the founder of DroidUp.

The development of the robot started in 2021 when the two institutions signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. They jointly launched the nation's first high-level talent cultivation program focusing on integrating arts and robotics technologies. Leveraging their own expertise and disciplinary strengths, the two sides designed a growth path and competency framework for robotics doctoral programs, and established multiple training modules.

According to Yang, who is also Xue Ba 01's academic adviser, the robot's curriculum in the four-year program will cover foundational, artistic, system and task modules, among others. It will receive comprehensive training in sectors such as cognitive modeling, embodied control and action expression, stage role-playing, and participate in doctoral task challenges, reports and performances.

In the future, Xue Ba 01 is expected to join other doctoral students in classrooms, where it will learn theory and engage in drama practice, and further study at key laboratories featuring the integration of AI and performing arts.

"We see significant meaning in the program," Li said. "If the robot could learn well to become a good 'performer', it can serve to provide emotional values for humans in the future. A human performer may get exhausted after dozens of shows, but robots won't. It can also help in longtime companionship, as well as many other scenes that require human interaction."

Li pointed out that their challenges in the four-year program lie not only in the robotics technology sector, but also in acting. With joint efforts, they expect to make breakthroughs in the robot's interaction with the physical world, especially in its movements, expressions and gestures with humanlike beauty and emotions.

"The doctoral program for robotics is a groundbreaking educational experiment that requires 'unity of knowledge and action'. Robots have the ability to learn fast, which will have an important impact on future education. We must train them to understand people, scenes and arts," said Zhang Jianwei, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.