Intelligent robots are mechanical devices that integrate multiple advanced technologies, possessing perception, decision-making, and execution capabilities. They can imitate or perform human behavior and tasks, and are highly integrated products of physical and intellectual labor, constructing artificial machines capable of "thinking".

Intelligent robots are high-tech complexes that integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines such as mechanics, electronics, biology, control theory, computer science, artificial intelligence, and systems engineering. Its research began in the early 1960s. In 1968, the Stanford Research Institute in the United States successfully developed the world's first intelligent robot, Shakey. In the 1990s, the initial development of computer technology and artificial intelligence technology led to the gradual development of third-generation intelligent robots that mimic humans for logical reasoning. In 2016, Google's artificial intelligence robot AlphaGo defeated Go world champion Lee Sedol, attracting widespread attention. As of the end of December 2024, there are a total of 451700 intelligent robot industry enterprises in China.

Intelligent robots have a highly developed 'brain', in which the central processing unit plays a role. This type of computer has a direct connection with the person operating it, and can perform purposeful actions. It has internal information sensors, external information sensors, and effectors that act on the surrounding environment; At least three elements must be possessed: sensory elements, motor elements, and thinking elements; According to their different levels of intelligence, they can be divided into industrial robots, primary intelligent robots, intelligent agricultural robots, home intelligent companion robots, and advanced intelligent robots; It mainly involves key technologies such as multi-sensor information fusion, navigation and positioning, path planning, robot vision, intelligent control, and human-machine interface technology, which can replace humans in dangerous and complex labor in unstructured environments.