Chinese electric automaker NIO is piloting humanoid robots on its electric vehicle production line at one of its Hefei factories. The Walker S robots are from Shenzhen-based UBTech Robotics, which showed off some of the walking robot’s capabilities to assist in NIO’s production operation in a YouTube video.
Walker S robot’s first real-world training
NIO seeks to further advance its already highly automated production lines with the potential permanent employment of the Walker S robots.
According to the Hong Kong-listed humanoid robot developer, its partnership with NIO marked the Walker S’ first time to undergo real-world training at a new energy vehicle (NEV) factory.
“Behind simple tasks is technology and strengt.”
UBTech said on Weibo
The Walker S robot leveraged its real-time image capture and transmission technologies to perform basic but useful tasks like quality inspections of seat belts, door locks, and headlight covers. It also assists in affixing vehicle logos.
Apart from these, NIO and UBTech omitted to disclose more details about the humanoid robots’ responsibilities in the NIO factory.
About UBTech
UBTech is a Shenzhen-based and Hong Kong-listed developer of humanoid and intelligent service robotics founded in March 2012.
It officially debuted on the Hong Kong stock market in late December 2023 with the ticker symbol 9880, advancing as the first-ever humanoid robot company to list there.
It currently offers the Walker, Walker X, and the Panda humanoid robots. However, it has yet to update its official website to include the Walker S on the product list.
NIO’s automation strategy
NIO currently produces its electric vehicles at its F1 and F2 factories in Hefei. Both factories already boast highly automated production lines.
In fact, its F2 factory’s body shop features 756 robots for automated EV production as of October 2023, making it one of the most innovative globally.
NIO has no plans to stop the innovations there with intentions to invest heavily in humanoid robots. It also weighs the application of robots capable of autonomously thinking, NIO’s Manufacturing VP Ji Huaqiang told the media in November 2023.
You can watch the Walker S robot’s real-world testing in NIO’s factory below:
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