BYD launches humanoid robots Xiao Di in Chinese car showrooms

BYD will deploy humanoid robots named Xiao Di in its Di Space showrooms in major Chinese cities. The robots were first unveiled to the public in Zhengzhou, and will later appear in Shenzhen and Shanghai.

Even relatively small automakers in China are developing their own humanoid robots, and market leader BYD is joining this trend. Meanwhile, sales of BYD's electric vehicles and hybrids, along with those of its subsidiary brands, have declined for the fourth consecutive month in China, prompting the company to seek new product categories to attract buyers. Software developments in BYD's proprietary "God's Eye" autonomous driving system are expected to support its robotics initiatives.

Xiao Di stands 1.61 meters tall and weighs 58 kilograms. Of its 31 degrees of freedom, seven are dedicated to the hands and six to the legs. The robots support six Chinese dialects and six foreign languages, and can recognize faces, gestures, and lip movements.

In showrooms, the robots will be tasked with interacting with visitors and demonstrating vehicles. Each showroom will host two or three robots, which are expected to be deployed across all BYD dealerships within one to two years. BYD currently has no plans for industrial or household applications of these robots, although it notes that these market segments hold potential for the future.

Source: Interesting Engineering