AU and Stanford Robotics Center Explore Two Generative AI Robotics Projects to Build a Human–Robot Collaborative Healthcare Ecosystem

Asia University President Jeffrey J. P. Tsai (right) visited the Stanford Robotics Center (SRC), a world-leading robotics research hub, where he was personally received by SRC Executive Director Steve Cousins (center). President Tsai also took a group photo with Dr. Der-Yang Cho (left), Superintendent of China Medical University Hospital.

As global competition in artificial intelligence expands from generative AI to embodied AI, healthcare has emerged as a key frontier for real-world applications. Asia University President Jeffrey J. P. Tsai traveled to the United States on the 17th to visit the Stanford Robotics Center (SRC), a world-renowned hub for robotics research. During the visit, Asia University, together with China Medical University Hospital and Ever Fortune.AI, formally connected with Stanford to explore collaboration in intelligent healthcare robotics. The delegation proposed two forward-looking research and development projects focusing on the clinical application of “generative AI plus robotics,” demonstrating Taiwan’s ambition to enter the global arena of AI-powered healthcare.

President Tsai led a delegation comprising Asia University’s Quantum AI, robotics, and smart healthcare teams, including Chair Professor Kuan-Tsae Huang, Charles C. N. Wang of the Office of Industry-Academia Collaboration, and Professor Yueh-Ting Tsai, to Stanford University in California. The three-party collaboration centers on two major proposals: "Developing an Interactive Robotic System for Healthcare Services Using Multimodal Models” and “Developing Next-Generation Generative AI Robots: Building a Human–Robot Collaborative Healthcare Ecosystem."

The first proposal emphasizes the integration of multimodal models and the Vision-Language-Action (VLA) framework, incorporating technologies such as rehabilitation robots, wearable sensing, fall-risk prediction, natural language navigation, and environmental perception. The goal is to develop intelligent robots that can be applied to ward care, rehabilitation assistance, and safety monitoring. The second proposal further combines generative AI, medical reasoning, multimodal interaction, and 3D world models to develop next-generation care robots capable of understanding, decision-making, task execution, and empathetic interaction, moving toward a clinically deployable smart healthcare ecosystem.

President Tsai stated that the visit was not merely an academic exchange, but a strategic initiative in AI robotics centered on healthcare settings. By combining the strengths of Taiwan’s medical system with the technological capabilities of Silicon Valley, Asia University aims to develop globally competitive smart healthcare solutions.

During the visit to SRC, the delegation was personally received by Steve Cousins, Executive Director of the Stanford Robotics Center and widely known as the "father of ROS." Cousins noted that robotics development is entering a critical transition from single-task systems to general intelligence. He emphasized that future progress will depend on interdisciplinary integration and the joint establishment of standard platforms with industry, with healthcare standing out as one of the most promising fields for application.

In the academic exchange sessions, Professor Jiajun Wu introduced the BEHAVIOR-1K project, which builds robotic training benchmarks based on real human needs, strengthening AI’s ability to move from the laboratory into everyday life applications. Professor Allison Okamura shared advances in haptic feedback and teleoperation technologies, which have been widely applied in minimally invasive surgery and high-risk medical procedures, highlighting the crucial role of human–robot collaboration in healthcare.

The China-Asia University System delegation observed several cutting-edge technologies at the Stanford Robotics Center, gaining deeper insights into how robotics can extend human capabilities and overcome environmental limitations.

The delegation took a close look at an adaptive robotic arm capable of performing precise operations in data centers. Through this visit, the team aims to integrate Silicon Valley’s technological strengths to develop globally competitive smart healthcare solutions.

The delegation also observed several cutting-edge technologies, including an adaptive robotic arm capable of performing precise operations in data centers, as well as the OceanOne deep-sea robot led by Professor Oussama Khatib. These demonstrations showcased how robotics can extend human capabilities and overcome environmental limitations.

President Tsai emphasized that Asia University has actively promoted its "AI + Robotics Program" in recent years, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary integration and practical applications. The collaboration with Stanford and medical centers will serve as an important foundation for curriculum advancement and research development. Looking ahead, the partnership is expected not only to deepen international collaboration but also to accelerate the cultivation of key talent equipped with AI expertise, engineering capabilities, and an understanding of healthcare needs.

Against the backdrop of an aging society and a shortage of healthcare professionals, intelligent healthcare robots are widely regarded as a major breakthrough opportunity for the next wave of industrial development. Through this visit, Asia University has not only entered the core of global innovation but also advanced concrete research proposals targeting real clinical settings. Moving beyond "seeing the future," Asia University is taking part in "building the future," helping Taiwan secure a strategic position in the global AI healthcare landscape.

Asia University President Jeffrey J. P. Tsai (second from left) led the China-Asia University System delegation, including Dean Charles C. N. Wang (first from left), Chair Professor Kuan-Tsae Huang (second from right), and Professor Yueh-Ting Tsai (first from right), to Stanford University in California for academic exchange. President Tsai presented an Asia University banner to SRC Executive Director Steve Cousins (center).