Education & Research Robot Manufacturer Humanoid Industrial Healthcare & Senior Care Software & Algorithm Provider
Liu Yaodong Resigns from Virtual Motion, Plans to Launch Embodied Intelligence Startups
Original from leaderobot.com: Liu Yaodong Steps Down from Virtual Motion, Expected to Venture into Embodied Intelligence Startups

Liu Yaodong Resigns from Virtual Motion, Plans to Launch Embodied Intelligence Startups

Liu Yaodong has officially stepped down as CEO of Virtual Motion and exited his management roles at Leyard Group. Industry experts believe he is likely to venture into startups focused on embodied intelligence, leveraging his extensive experience in spatial computing and robotics.

During his tenure at Virtual Motion, Liu led the development of core technologies such as OptiTrack optical positioning and markerless motion recognition. He collaborated with Peking University's AI Institute to create a motion model for humanoid robots, establishing a comprehensive spatial computing technology stack that has been applied across various sectors, including entertainment, industry, healthcare, and education.

Liu's foresight in the embodied intelligence sector has led him to facilitate the transfer of spatial computing technologies to the robotics industry, providing technical support to leading humanoid robot manufacturers. He has also been recognized with multiple industry awards, including the Hurun Digital Pioneer and the Annual Influential Figure in Robotics, indicating a strong foundation for his future entrepreneurial endeavors in embodied intelligence.

Editor's Note

Liu Yaodong's transition from Virtual Motion highlights a significant shift in the robotics landscape, particularly in the realm of embodied intelligence. His extensive background in spatial computing positions him well to influence the next wave of technological advancements. Stakeholders should monitor his upcoming ventures as they may reshape industry standards and practices.

RobotToday Initiative

Robotics needs a service framework.

RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.

Share

Related Articles/News

Cog-WM 1.0 Launch: Advancing Embodied Intelligence with Cognitive Models

Cog-WM 1.0 Launch: Advancing Embodied Intelligence with Cognitive Models

On September 14, the first forum on brain-like embodied intelligence unveiled Cog-WM 1.0, a cognitive world model developed by Brain Rock. This model addresses challenges faced by robots in unfamiliar environments, such as maintaining spatial memory and predicting actions after losing sight of targets. The forum attracted top experts and capital interest,...

Cognitive Robotics Embodied Intelligence AI Navigation
Ubtech Launches 10,000-Unit Capacity Humanoid Robot Factory in Liuzhou, China

Ubtech Launches 10,000-Unit Capacity Humanoid Robot Factory in Liuzhou, China

Ubtech Robotics has commenced operations at a new humanoid robot factory located in Liuzhou, China. This facility is designed to produce up to 10,000 units annually and can manufacture one industrial humanoid robot every 10 minutes, focusing on the Walker S and Cruzr series. The significance of this factory lies in its innovative use of robotics in the ma...

AI AI Funding & Investment Capital Markets
PrimeLite Robot Enhances Classroom Learning Through Embodied Intelligence

PrimeLite Robot Enhances Classroom Learning Through Embodied Intelligence

A small robot named PrimeLite, developed by Deep Intelligence, is designed for educational settings, allowing students to build their own robots from 3D-printed parts. This initiative aims to make embodied intelligence accessible in classrooms by addressing cost and safety concerns associated with traditional industrial robots. The significance of PrimeLi...

Educational Robotics Embodied Intelligence 3D Printing
Companion Robots Achieve Nearly 300,000 Sales, Highlighting New Market for Embodied Intelligence

Companion Robots Achieve Nearly 300,000 Sales, Highlighting New Market for Embodied Intelligence

Robopoet's Fuzozo, priced at 399 yuan, has sold nearly 300,000 units in China since its launch in July 2025. This surge in sales contrasts sharply with traditional humanoid robots, which have struggled to gain traction in the market. The emotional companionship and personalized interaction offered by such robots have proven to meet a validated demand, as ...

Companion Robots Emotional AI Consumer Robotics
Shift in Embodied Intelligence Focus from Body to Brain by 2026

Shift in Embodied Intelligence Focus from Body to Brain by 2026

By 2026, the embodied intelligence sector is witnessing a significant shift in focus from 'body' to 'brain'. Data indicates that over half of the funding in the first half of this year has gone to companies emphasizing cognitive systems. Investors are prioritizing the ability of agents to perform in complex scenarios rather than merely their humanoid appe...

Embodied Intelligence Cognitive Robotics AI
UBTECH Launches Liuzhou Super Smart Factory for Humanoid Robot Production

UBTECH Launches Liuzhou Super Smart Factory for Humanoid Robot Production

UBTECH has officially commissioned its Liuzhou plant, which spans approximately 14,000 square meters. The facility features a production takt time of around 10 minutes and includes dedicated lines for the Walker S and Cruzr humanoid robots. Additionally, the factory employs robots-building-robots logistics and a Siemens digital-twin stack, targeting an an...

Paxini Leads 51 Standards Initiatives for Embodied Intelligence to Globalize Domestic Technology

Paxini Leads 51 Standards Initiatives for Embodied Intelligence to Globalize Domestic Technology

Paxini has taken a proactive role in establishing a comprehensive standards system for embodied intelligence, participating in 51 international, national, and industry standards projects. This includes one international standard, 32 national standards, and 18 industry standards, focusing on key areas such as perception, data, and robotics. The establishme...

Embodied Intelligence Standardization Robotics
Xieyue Intelligence Raises Significant Funding to Advance Embodied AI Development

Xieyue Intelligence Raises Significant Funding to Advance Embodied AI Development

Xieyue Intelligence has announced the completion of a substantial angel round funding, amounting to hundreds of millions, with investments from Linear Capital, Junshan Capital, Hongyi Capital, and Yingshan Capital. This funding will be utilized to further advance the training of embodied foundational models, enhance computational and data infrastructure, ...

Embodied AI Home Robotics AI Infrastructure
ROBOTTODAY WEEKLY September 7 – 11, 2026

ROBOTTODAY WEEKLY September 7 – 11, 2026

This week in robotics: JD.com plans to deploy three million robots across its logistics network, XPeng commissions its IRON humanoid production line, FANUC and Google launch an AI arc-welding agent, and Unitree shares fall 53% from their post-IPO high. September 7–11, 2026.

RobotToday Weekly
European Group Calls for Increased Vigilance Among Defense Firms Amid Rising Tensions

European Group Calls for Increased Vigilance Among Defense Firms Amid Rising Tensions

The Aerospace, Security & Defence Industries Association of Europe has urged defense firms to enhance their vigilance following a series of suspicious incidents. This call for heightened awareness comes as European officials have increasingly implicated Moscow in various activities, raising concerns about security within the defense sector. The emphasis o...

Global arson Denmark
Selecting the Optimal Rack and Pinion System for Precision Linear Motion Applications

Selecting the Optimal Rack and Pinion System for Precision Linear Motion Applications

GAM has developed rack, pinion, and gearbox systems designed for high performance across all components. A rack and pinion system operates by converting rotational motion from the pinion into linear motion via the rack. Choosing the correct system is crucial, as improper selection can lead to performance issues and increased costs. According to Matt Ruggl...

Actuators / Motors / Servos Motion Control News
Bionic Emotion-Sensing Humanoid Robot Demonstrates Real Tears During Interaction

Bionic Emotion-Sensing Humanoid Robot Demonstrates Real Tears During Interaction

A new humanoid robot has been developed that can express emotions by shedding real tears while communicating. This advancement highlights the potential for robots to engage more authentically with humans, enhancing their roles in various applications. The ability of this robot to exhibit genuine emotional responses could significantly impact industries su...

AI and Robotics

Related Suppliers

NaturalPoint / OptiTrack

US manufacturer of high-precision optical motion capture systems used in robotics ground-truth sensing, VR/AR, biomechanics, and autonomous vehicle validation.

Motion & Navigation Perception & Vision Human-Machine Interaction

OptiTrack

OptiTrack, an Oregon-based NaturalPoint brand, was selected by Carnegie Mellon as the motion-capture partner for its new Robotics Innovation Center in 2026.

Black Sesame Technologies Co., Ltd. 黑芝麻智能科技有限公司

AI automotive chip company developing Huashan-series SoCs for autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems.

ARIX Technologies

Houston-based robotics company making VENUS pipe-crawling robot for corrosion-under-insulation inspection in oil & gas and industrial facilities.

Industrial Manufacturing Robot Manufacturer Perception & Vision

Shenzhen Moqi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. 深圳墨奇智能技术有限公司

Shenzhen embodied-intelligence startup building home-service robots, backed by a 2026 angel round led by Alibaba and Tencent.

Hexfellow Robotics Co., Ltd.

Guangzhou-based maker of modular embodied-AI robot hardware: force-controlled arms, omni-wheel mobile bases, and open-source ROS SDKs.

Vopoint 北京虚拟动点科技有限公司

Beijing-based Leyard Group subsidiary building optical motion-capture cameras and spatial-computing AI models for embodied robotics.

XINMING 合肥芯明智能科技有限公司

Hefei chip designer founded 2020; NU4000/NU4100 are the only mass-produced single-chip SoCs integrating 3D stereo vision, AI, and SLAM for robotics.

Techsoft Robots 深圳市泰科智能机器人有限公司

Shenzhen manufacturer of humanoid and collaborative robot joint modules, servo drives, and dual-arm cobots for OEM and end-user customers.

Cosine Robots

Bengaluru-based startup developing affordable cycloidal actuators and humanoid robots for industrial and research applications.

Robot Manufacturer Software & Algorithm Provider Education & Research

Topcon Corporation

Japanese manufacturer of GNSS, machine control, and optical positioning systems for precision agriculture, construction automation, and surveying.

Agriculture Construction Industrial

Accerion

Infrastructure-free positioning technology for AGVs and autonomous mobile robots.

Mobile Robot (AGV/AMR) Control & Software Systems Logistics & Supply Chain

inJoin the RobotToday community on LinkedIn

Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.