BYD enters the market of humanoid AI robots
BYD has joined the race to develop humanoid AI robots, unveiling the Xiao Di project with advanced recognition and interaction capabilities. The prototype is expected to be showcased as early as August.
Ingenium
The race to develop humanoid AI robots is reaching a new level. Companies like Tesla and Xpeng are already working on mass-producing their Optimus and Iron robots, respectively. Now, BYD, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has joined the competition by launching its own project called Xiao Di. News of this development surfaced after a message from the BYD Di Space center in Zhengzhou was accidentally published, followed by discussions on Chinese social media where details about the new robot were revealed.
Technical Specifications of Xiao Di
According to leaked information, the Xiao Di humanoid AI robot stands 160 cm tall and weighs 59 kg. It features 31 degrees of freedom in its arms, legs, torso, and neck, allowing for smooth and precise movements. Xiao Di’s hands can grip objects weighing up to 1 kg with an accuracy of 1 mm. The robot is equipped with a 360-degree panoramic vision system and real-time dynamic 3D modeling of its surroundings, enabling it to recognize complex objects, faces, gestures, and lip movements. Its built-in multimodal interaction system supports real-time translation into six dialects and six foreign languages.
Positioning and Applications
The name Xiao Di combines the Chinese word for “little” with an abbreviation of the BYD brand, which can be interpreted as “Little BYD.” The robot is designed as a female character, aligning with the company’s long-term strategy. In the future, BYD plans to deploy two or three of these robots as sales assistants in each of its dealerships. They will be able to greet customers, provide information about electric vehicles, and conduct demonstrations.
Competition in the AI Robot Market
China is witnessing a surge in competition within the robotics sector. Chery is already selling its Aimoga AI robots, while SAIC-GM uses wheeled robots in its manufacturing processes. BYD intends to implement Xiao Di in its own factories and hundreds of showrooms. The prototype of Xiao Di is expected to be unveiled to the public in August, which could intensify competition with Tesla’s Optimus.