BYD is preparing its humanoid robot and has big ambitions
Humanoid robots are of increasing interest to technological giants like OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. BYD does not escape the trend as automaker breaks production records.
BYD looks at humanoid robots
Its division was established in 2003 before renaming itself FinDreams Technology in 2019. Until then, it was responsible for the development and production of components such as batteries, motors and electronic systems.
Since then, the division has reverted to its name “15th business unit” and underwent a huge restructuring in the first half of the year by creating an artificial intelligence laboratory called “future lab” (laboratory of the future).
BYD is actively seeking talent for its humanoid robotics division with attractive salaries. The laboratory focuses first on industrial robots, particularly for automatic guided vehicles (AGV). Other machines are at the pre-research stage.
On December 13, 2024, BYD posted several job openings on WeChat targeting universities around the world. The automaker is looking for new master's and doctoral graduates for its intelligence team. The job descriptions reveal that employees will work on humanoid robots, bipedal robots and quadrupedal mechanical dogs.
The automaker is already experimenting with humanoid robots in its vehicle assembly plants.
UBTech Robotics, a Hong Kong-listed company, announced the integration of its humanoid robots with autonomous vehicles in BYD factories on November 5, 2024.
Other Chinese firms are preparing their robots
But that's not all. UBTech Robotics shared a video on February 22, 2024 which shows its Walker S robot working on a Nio assembly line, another Chinese automobile manufacturer.
Xpeng, also of Chinese origin, showed its Iron humanoid robot, 178 cm and 70 kg, intended to work in its factories before being deployed in points of sale, offices and homes.
Li Auto founder, chairman and CEO Li Xiang said at the AI Talk event that the company will also enter the humanoid robotics market.
