Exploring Hangzhou’s AI Innovation Hub: httproto Joins Shenzhen SME Bureau on a Smart Manufacturing Study Tour
In November 2024, httproto partnered with the Shenzhen Municipal Service Bureau for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to embark on a week-long study tour in Hangzhou—a national leader in digital economy and AI innovation. Our delegation visited pioneering organizations including Unitree Robotics, Alibaba, DeepRobotics, the Yangtze River Delta (Hangzhou) Manufacturing Digital Capability Center, H3C, Hikvision, iFLYTEK, and the Hangzhou International Scientific Innovation Center of Zhejiang University. The goal was clear: to observe firsthand how leading enterprises integrate advanced management practices and intelligent production systems, and to better understand how AI technologies are reshaping corporate digital transformation and strategic growth.
At Unitree Robotics, we witnessed the humanoid robot H1 performing traditional Chinese folk dance moves with fluidity, while the quadruped robot B2 navigated rugged terrain with remarkable stability. Founded by engineer Wang Xingxing—a “post-90s” innovator—Unitree has achieved nearly 70% global market share in quadruped robots through full-stack self-developed technologies, including electric actuators, motion control algorithms, and embodied intelligence systems. Their dual focus on core R&D and real-world deployment offers a compelling blueprint for scaling AI hardware from lab to market.
At DeepRobotics, we saw the “Jueying” series of quadruped robots actively deployed in industrial scenarios such as power grid inspection and emergency response. Their newly launched Dr.01 humanoid robot integrates multimodal perception with large-model reasoning, signaling a major step toward general-purpose embodied AI.
At Alibaba’s Xixi Campus, we gained deep insights into how the Qwen large language model powers industry transformation through an integrated “Cloud + AI” architecture. Alibaba’s commitment to open-source collaboration and responsible AI development underscored a key message: foundation models are not just technical tools—they are foundational infrastructure for building ecosystem-wide innovation.
At Hikvision, AI is deeply embedded across both production and management workflows. Their proprietary multimodal perception large models can monitor assembly line operations in real time—detecting missing screws, misplaced components, or procedural deviations—and issue millisecond-level alerts. Internally, AI enhances operational efficiency through intelligent customer service, automated order matching, and sales support systems, significantly boosting productivity for their 10,000+ sales team.
At H3C, we explored their “Digital Brain” strategy, which fuses AI with networking, computing, and storage to deliver end-to-end intelligent solutions for government and enterprise clients. From data centers to edge nodes, AI is becoming the “operating system” of next-generation IT infrastructure.
The Yangtze River Delta (Hangzhou) Manufacturing Digital Capability Center offered a comprehensive roadmap for industrial digitalization. By curating proven solutions across R&D, production, logistics, carbon management, and more, the center provides SMEs with tangible, actionable blueprints—effectively bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical implementation.
At the Hangzhou International Scientific Innovation Center of Zhejiang University, we observed seamless synergy between frontier research and industrial needs. The center not only incubates cross-disciplinary ventures like Yanjin Tech—which combines AI with synthetic biology—but also promotes talent exchange through mechanisms such as “Industry Professors” and “Technology Vice Presidents,” channeling academic expertise directly into enterprises.
iFLYTEK demonstrated how AI excels in vertical domains like speech recognition, education, and healthcare. Their “platform + verticals” strategy reaffirmed a critical truth: general-purpose large models must be grounded in deep industry knowledge to deliver real value.
This journey to Hangzhou was far more than a technical field trip—it was a transformative exploration of the future of enterprise. We now see clearly: AI is no longer optional; it is essential for improving efficiency, enabling smarter decisions, and creating innovative customer experiences. True digital transformation demands systemic change across technology, management, organization, and culture.
As a client-centric technology enabler, httproto is committed to continuously learning and actively applying cutting-edge AI technologies—whether large models, embodied intelligence, industrial vision, or predictive maintenance—to enhance every aspect of our service delivery.
Moving forward, httproto will translate the insights gained in Hangzhou into practical, tailored solutions that empower more businesses to embrace AI, navigate disruption, and thrive in the digital era.
Because the best service always comes from capabilities that never stop evolving.
