Beijing researchers say they have for the first time connected a fully embodied humanoid robot directly to a low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) internet satellite and used the link to stream the robot's visual data in a location without ground network support. The demonstration, presented by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center during a commercial space industry conference, paired the centre's "Jushen Tiangong" humanoid with a new flat‑panel, phased‑array LEO internet satellite developed by Galaxy Aerospace.
Engineers described the satellite as a high‑throughput, wing‑array integrated platform capable of simultaneous multi‑terminal, multi‑link connections. The test reportedly sent robot vision data through a low‑orbit satellite relay in real time, validating sustained operation without terrestrial communications infrastructure. If replicated at scale, the combination of embodied robotics and spaceborne connectivity could allow autonomous machines to work in remote, disaster‑hit or infrastructure‑sparse environments.
The technical novelty rests on two converging advances: embodied intelligence in mobile humanoid platforms and agile beamforming on modern flat‑panel LEO satellites. Phased‑array flat panels can steer multiple narrow beams to several terminals, reducing the need for nearby ground stations and enabling concurrent links with many users. For robots this matters because high‑bandwidth, low‑latency visual and sensor streams are central to remote autonomy, teleoperation and collaborative multi‑robot missions.
The claim carries some caveats. The report originates from the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center and was published on a user‑generated page of a Chinese news platform; the outlet appended a notice that it merely stores user uploads. The demonstration appears to have been a controlled experiment rather than a commercial deployment, and independent technical details—throughput, latency, link reliability under motion, and encryption or cybersecurity measures—were not disclosed.
The broader implications are nevertheless significant. Civilian uses such as search and rescue, pipeline inspection, maritime operations and off‑grid construction could be transformed by robots that no longer depend on terrestrial cellular or private networks. The capability also has clear dual‑use potential: resilient satellite links for autonomous platforms are attractive for military logistics, remote sensing and operations in contested or communications‑denied environments. As China expands its LEO constellation and refines phased‑array technologies, expect more demonstrations tying robotics, AI and space infrastructure together, raising questions about standards, security and space traffic management.