Two bipedal figures, one on each side of the assembly line, are tightening nuts on the wheels of a frame moving in front of them. They are not human workers but humanoid robots from Xiaomi, and they are operating in the company’s electric car factory in Beijing. Not lightning-fast or flawless, these robots are functional and sufficiently quick to keep up with the production line. Xiaomi refers to them as “trainees,” a term reflecting their learning status. In an interview with CNBC, Xiaomi’s President Lu Weibing explained that the two robots successfully completed 90.2% of the tasks during a three-hour trial shift. With a cycle time of 76 seconds, matching the pace of a new car coming off the factory production line, the robots manage to stay synchronized with the operational flow.
Integrating robots into production lines poses the challenge of maintaining pace, as Lu highlighted that keeping up is the primary obstacle. Surprisingly, the humanoid robots manage to match our rhythm. While a pair of human workers could likely perform the tasks more swiftly, the significance lies in having robots operate within a real industrial setting on an actual product without disrupting production. Lu remains realistic, acknowledging the experimental phase, yet underscores the remarkable accomplishment. A promotional video released by the company showcases the precision with which the two robots accurately place nuts on small parts of the frame, a task demanding millimeter precision previously deemed beyond the capabilities of humanoid robots.
Xiaomi is not the pioneer in deploying bipedal robots in factories. In February, the British company Humanoid conducted a similar test with over 90% success in a stacking task. The distinguishing factor lies in the robots themselves; while Humanoid robots were fixed on a stable base, Xiaomi’s robots balance on their own legs, resembling human form. China has already deployed more industrial robots than any other nation in history. However, traditional industrial robots are fixed mechanical arms designed for specific tasks on the production line. Bipedal robots, on the other hand, require functionalities such as walking, balance, and object manipulation akin to human capabilities. Transitioning from robotic arms to bipedal robots marks a significant technological leap, albeit primarily demonstrated at this stage with widespread adoption still a distant prospect.
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