China has launched a national programme that will assign every humanoid robot manufactured in the country a unique digital identity code, effectively a citizen ID, but for bipedal machines (those that can balance and walk/run on two legs).
The initiative, called the Humanoid Full Lifecycle Management Service Platform, was announced on Friday. It is led by the Humanoid Robotics and Embodied Intelligence Standardization committee, which is under China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (via South China Morning Post).
KAIST
What does a robot ID actually look like?
The machine codes are structured in four parts. While a two-digit national code tracks international shipments and sales, a four-digit manufacturer code keeps a record of the firm that manufactured it.
Then there’s a six-digit product model code that identifies the robot type, along with a 17-digit serial code distinguishing individual units from one another. The purpose is to follow the humanoid robots from the production through its entire working life, all the way to recycling.
The guidelines cover everyone involved in the supply chain, from manufacturers, service providers, sellers, end users, to the recycling facilities. The new system should also accelerate the deployment of humanoid robots in a regulated manner, wherein the manufacturing firm could be held accountable for any malfunctions.
Unitree
Why is China doing this now?
According to January research from IDC (as mentioned in the report), the global humanoid robot market expanded 508% just last year, with around 18,000 units shipped globally, with the Chinese vendors leading that growth.
China already has over 100 humanoid manufacturers, and more than 28,000 robots across 200 models have already been assigned a digital ID before the public announcement of the Humanoid Full Lifecycle Management Service Platform.
Yu Xiuming, deputy head at the China Electronics Standardization Institute, said the system is designed to address core issues around safety, oversight, and governance. China’s humanoid industry is moving faster than the regulation framework, and the ID system is less a surveillance move and more an industrial infrastructure play, the kind of standardisation required before global scaling.
What streaming platform do you think of when you hear the term “comfort shows?” There are plenty of great comfort shows over on Netflix, or maybe available with an HBO Max subscription. But for me, I always think of Peacock.
With a Peacock subscription, there are so many options for classic comfort shows that will no doubt make your day—and provide you with that comfy need that we all so desperately crave. Here are seven that you must check out.
The Office
A classic comedy
Credit: NBC
I mean, you knew it was going to be on here, don’t lie.
The Office was a nine-season sitcom that took the world by storm. Starring Steve Carell as Michael Scott, this iconic workplace comedy follows the professional and personal lives of workers at a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
I think The Office is a show that defines the word “comfort.” Anytime I ask people what they usually put on in the background, The Office is always the first choice because it’s easy to follow, has characters you want to root for, and is so freaking funny (even if some of those jokes have not aged well all these years later). It’s certainly worth a shot
Parks And Recreation
Amy Poehler is the best
Credit: NBC
Another great comfort show that also happens to come from the same developer of the U.S. version of The Office (the wonderful Greg Daniels), Parks and Recreation is a sitcom mainly about Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat who is trying to improve her home in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, in the Parks and Recreation department.
The series is extremely well-received and has some huge stars attached, including Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and more. With seven seasons and one hundred and twenty-six episodes, you’re in for a long binge.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The laughs go on and on
Andy dressed asAndy Samberg as Jake Peralta with his arm around Eva Longoria as Sophia Perez in Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of those shows that I think everyone has seen at least one episode of, just because it’s so funny. The main premise of the series follows the lives of police officers, detectives, and others in a fictional police precinct in New York, specifically in Brooklyn.
This series was a hit for NBC, and while it did move to another streaming platform towards the end of its run, it is a beloved comedy perfect for a weekend of comfy watching. Not only that, but the stars—Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, and more—have some of the best chemistry out there and will, no doubt, make you laugh out loud.
Everybody Loves Raymond
Who doesn’t love an Italian Long Island-er?
Credit: CBS
You better believe I put Everybody Loves Raymond on here—because everyone loves it!
This late 1990s-early 2000s sitcom stars Ray Romano as Ray Barone, an Italian-American who lives on Long Island and has made it as a successful sports writer. It tells the story of his family and how he deals with the drama, juggling his wife, his neighbors, and more.
Switch on these shows when you want to switch off.
I genuinely cannot think of another television show I have seen more often over the last couple of decades than this, and the number of reruns is astronomical. With nine seasons, Everybody Loves Raymond is the type of binge you don’t want to miss.
Modern Family
A series anyone can relate to
Credit: ABC
Now this is my kind of comfort show. Modern Family—and all eleven of its seasons—is available to stream on Peacock.
This groundbreaking sitcom tells the stories of three diverse families in the suburbs of Los Angeles and how their lives intersect. But it’s so much more than that. The comedy is hysterical, and yet each episode finds a new way to tug at your heartstrings.
Not only that, but it’s also just a genuinely relatable show for modern-day parents, and I’m not just saying that because of the name. It touches on both funny topics and social issues, making it a really well-done series. There’s a reason why there were so many Emmys thrown at this series.
That ‘70s Show
So much smoke—and friends!
Credit: Fox
For some reason, That ‘70s Show was the series I was obsessed with as a kid. And honestly, it’s a vibe, even now. The series mainly follows six teenagers in Wisconsin between 1976 and 1979 as they come of age, experience growing pains, and learn to come into their own while also smoking the devil’s lettuce, if you know what I mean.
On a real note, That ‘70s Show is a hilarious series with great performances from Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Wilmer Valderrama, and so many more. This series has been with me on my good days and bad, and while its little successor, That ‘90s Show, on Netflix is a fun one, nothing compares to the original. You’re missing out if haven’t had the chance to sit down and watch the whole show.
Saturday Night Live
Laughs and more
Credit: NBC
OK, so hear me out.
I know, when it comes to comfort shows, we honestly do think sitcoms are cute, but I think Saturday Night Live falls into that category. Why? Because it’s one of those shows that you can put on in the background and just chill.
It’s not something that’s heavily serialized or has any real plot to follow. It’s just funny sketches and enjoyable music performances. That’s it. And with the number of seasons that are available to watch on Peacock, you can’t really get better than this.
Peacock is such a great subscription service, and honestly, it just makes me want to rewatch each of these awesome shows. What are you looking forward to watching on a comfy weekend?
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