Weekly Briefing: Xiaomi Develops a 21-Degree-of-Freedom Bionic Dexterous Hand; AgiBot's First-Half Revenue Nears 2 Billion Yuan

The major events in the embodied intelligence field this week are as follows: AgiBot's first-half revenue approached 2 billion yuan. On October 29, at the main forum of the 2026 AgiBot Innovation Day, Peng Zhihui, co-founder, president, and CTO of AgiBot, publicly announced the company's latest operational and mass-production progress on site. Peng Zhihui revealed that AgiBot completed the rollout of its 20,000th embodied intelligent robot in September this year, and that AgiBot's overall revenue in the first half of 2026 was close to 2 billion yuan, with the pace of commercialization continuing to accelerate. Data shows that AgiBot's revenue in 2025 was 1.05 billion yuan, which means that in the first half of this year AgiBot's revenue was already close to twice its full-year 2025 revenue. From about 300,000 yuan in 2023 to 1.05 billion yuan in 2025, and then to nearly 2 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, AgiBot's revenue has achieved leapfrog growth. In fact, as early as April this year, Peng Zhihui predicted in a media interview that AgiBot's revenue this year might grow severalfold. He also emphasized at the time that the pace of commercialization is now very fast and the company does not lack money. Xiaozhi's comment: The confidence of "not lacking money" comes from revenue growth, and embodied robots' self-generated "blood-making" is beginning to replace the financing narrative. Xiaomi develops a 21-degree-of-freedom bionic dexterous hand. On October 27, Xiaomi Technology announced the core information of its new-generation bionic hand: 21 degrees of freedom, hybrid drive with 26 motors, and 1,500-point high-density full-palm touch sensing. According to Xiaomi Technology, these 21 degrees of freedom were "calculated" from 1,827 standard operating procedures (SOPs) at its own automobile factory. According to the introduction, Xiaomi's robotics team conducted complete data collection and analytical verification based on 1,827 standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the automobile factory. Simulation ablation analysis based on real operating data showed that in the 17-21 degree-of-freedom range, the average stable grasping success rate of the bionic dexterous hand improved by 15%-38% compared with 6-15 degrees of freedom, among which 21 degrees of freedom showed the greatest improvement in factory operation coverage and grasping success rate. Hence Xiaomi's new-generation dexterous hand has 21 degrees of freedom. At the same time, Xiaomi's new-generation bionic hand mainly adopts tendon-string drive, integrating 5 direct-drive degrees of freedom placed on joints with low load requirements, seeking a balance among degrees of freedom, load capacity, weight, and range of motion. The tendon-driven motors were moved to the forearm, so the palm weight was reduced to 324 grams. Xiaozhi's comment: The 21 degrees of freedom were "calculated" from 1,827 factory SOPs; Xiaomi's dexterous hand is hardware defined by demand. XPeng's solid-state battery dedicated to humanoid robots rolled off the small-batch mass-production line. On October 28, Gu Jie, vice president of XPeng Group, disclosed at the Embodied Intelligent Robot Conference of the China Society of Automotive Engineers Annual Conference (SAECCE) that the solid-state battery dedicated to XPeng's IRON humanoid robot had completed small-batch mass-production rollout, and that the complete robot is currently in the final stage before SOP (formal mass production). According to Gu Jie, this robot-dedicated solid-state battery adopts a high-energy-density and ultimate-safety design. Compared with traditional liquid lithium batteries, it is about 30% lighter and has about 30% more power. The battery adopts a design to prevent thermal runaway propagation and can pass stringent tests such as impact and nail penetration. This is the first time XPeng has publicly released a robot-dedicated solid-state battery. As XPeng Group's most important business segment besides new energy vehicles, XPeng Robotics' mass-production pace has recently accelerated noticeably: on September 22, XPeng held its first Robotics Supply Chain Partner Conference, with leading companies in core component fields such as actuators, dexterous hands, sensors, and AI chips attending in force; factory audits of the supply chain and designation of core components have now been completed. According to XPeng's previously announced plan, the IRON humanoid robot will officially enter the large-scale mass-production stage at the end of 2026, be launched and delivered in 2027, and enter global stores and commercial scenarios to handle services such as shopping guidance and explanation. Xiaozhi's comment: If the robot-dedicated solid-state battery can be mass-produced stably, it is expected to improve the endurance and load capacity of humanoid robots. Yanfeng International joins hands with the National and Local Center to jointly build an embodied intelligence "training ground." On October 28, Yanfeng International and the National and Local Center officially reached a strategic cooperation. The two parties will focus on jointly building an embodied intelligence scenario data center and an embodied intelligence training demonstration site for the automotive industry, and will carry out deep collaboration in directions such as data platform construction, training demonstration site construction, vertical-scenario solution development, and joint construction of industry standards. On one side is a globally leading automotive components giant, and on the other is China's first national-level humanoid robot innovation platform. This partnership points to the same thing: enabling embodied intelligence to move from stage demonstrations into actual automotive manufacturing lines. At the signing site, the two parties conducted a "two-way plaque award": the National and Local Center awarded Yanfeng International the plaque of "National and Local Jointly Built Humanoid Robot Innovation Center Embodied Intelligence Scenario Data Center and Training Demonstration Site for the Automotive Parts Industry"; Yanfeng International awarded the National and Local Center the plaque of "Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. Embodied Intelligence Application Demonstration Center for the Automotive Parts Industry." At present, Yanfeng International is actively seizing opportunities in the embodied intelligence industry and accelerating its layout along the path of "data asset accumulation -> closed-loop verification in vertical scenarios -> industry solution output." Next, Yanfeng International will fully open its manufacturing scenarios and production-line data resources and work closely with the National and Local Center to solidly advance the implementation of various cooperation initiatives. Xiaozhi's comment: Behind the two-way plaque awards are two-way needs: manufacturing wants intelligence, and robots want real workstations; the cooperation is only natural. Lee Jae-yong Inspects Samsung's RX Robotics Business Division for the First Time

According to foreign media reports, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently visited the Robotics Experience (RX) Business Promotion Office located in the Seoul R&D Campus in Umyeon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, to inspect the various robots Samsung is developing as well as progress in landing self-developed technologies, and to check the preparations for the humanoid robot technology Samsung plans to unveil at CES 2027 in January next year.

The RX Business Promotion Office is an organization newly established by Samsung Electronics in July this year. Its purpose is to integrate robotics R&D capabilities and technological competitiveness, and it is the "robotics control tower" that coordinates core technology development, formulates medium- and long-term robotics strategy, and advances commercialization. To accelerate decision-making efficiency, the organization adopts a structure that reports directly to the representative director, with Samsung Electronics President (DX Division Head) Roh Tae-moon concurrently serving as head of the RX Business Promotion Office.

It is reported that this is the first on-site visit by Lee Jae-yong to supervise the robotics business since the establishment of the RX Business Promotion Office, which is of special significance.

Currently, Samsung has selected robotics as a new growth engine. The company plans to deploy robots inside semiconductor, smartphone, and home appliance factories to maximize production efficiency; at the same time, it has set the goal of converting all domestic and overseas factories into AI autonomous factories by 2030. Samsung also plans to sell robotics technologies proven in manufacturing scenarios to external customers.

Xiaozhi's comment: With Lee Jae-yong personally supervising the RX division, it appears Samsung intends to elevate robotics from a marginal project to the height of a new group-level engine.

Fenglong Shares Establishes Wholly Owned Subsidiary Xinfenglong; Multiple Products Already in Mass Production

Recently, UBTECH revealed that after completing the acquisition of Fenglong Shares, relying on UBTECH's embodied intelligence technology and application advantages, combined with its own precision manufacturing accumulation, Fenglong Shares has established a wholly owned subsidiary, Xinfenglong, to continuously advance the self-development and large-scale manufacturing of core hardware for embodied intelligence.

At present, Xinfenglong has built three major product matrices: first, core components, including bionic human facial servos, high-density servos (planetary, harmonic, cycloidal, linear), cooling modules, and electronic skin; second, end effectors, covering two-finger grippers, dexterous hands, and ultra-humanoid bionic dexterous arms; third, peripheral supporting components, including battery swap cabinets, charging stands, and others.

Among them, Xinfenglong's two-finger grippers and bionic human facial servos have achieved mass production, and the company says product performance is superior to similar products on the market; high power density servos, dexterous hands, and ultra-humanoid bionic dexterous arms are planned for mass production in 2027, while cutting-edge technologies such as liquid cooling modules and electronic skin are under simultaneous development.

According to the plan, Xinfenglong will also gradually integrate UBTECH's embodied intelligence robot businesses such as U-World and U-Medical, covering the home consumer and medical tracks.

Xiaozhi's comment: The establishment of Xinfenglong shows that UBTECH's self-development and mass production of core hardware for embodied intelligence have begun to be systematized.

Unitree and Sequoia China Launch "Shanyu? Venture Plan"

On October 28, Unitree Technology and Sequoia China announced the joint establishment of the "Shanyu? Venture Plan," focusing on early-stage startup projects in embodied intelligence, robotics applications and their upstream and downstream key technologies, and other frontier hard-tech fields.

It is said that the plan will combine Unitree's engineering implementation capabilities with Sequoia China's investment experience, adopt an "engineer + investor" investment approach, provide early-stage teams with industry and financial support ranging from technology R&D and product application to financing and development, and focus on supporting young entrepreneurial teams.

Simply put, this is a platform where a "leading VC + complete machine manufacturer" partner to make early-stage investments, featuring the dual perspective and synergy of "engineer + investor" to discover more potential high-quality entrepreneurs.

According to the official statement, the plan aims to become founders' "entrepreneurial partner," covering the entire process from technology R&D and product application to subsequent financing, giving entrepreneurs a "double guarantee": Unitree provides cutting-edge technical insight and engineering guidance, and Sequoia provides full-chain capital and post-investment services.

According to a review by Gasgoo Embodied Intelligence, in addition to Unitree, since the beginning of this year, leading companies such as AgiBot, Galbot, Galaxea, and X Square Robot have all been making external investments. Among them, Galaxea also partnered with Cathay Capital to launch the "Stellar Plan," which plans to invest 1 billion yuan over five years to support early-stage teams.

Xiaozhi's comment: Leading companies are collectively making investments; competition in embodied intelligence has already escalated from products to ecosystems.

Qiyuan's 5,000th Personal Robot Officially Rolls Off the Line

On October 25, the 5,000th personal robot of Qiyuan Robot, a consumer-grade brand under SWANCOR Advanced Materials (688585), officially rolled off the line. This is exactly one month after Qiyuan Q1 and T1 officially went on sale on September 20. The Qiyuan T1 numbered "NO.5000" was delivered on site to representative user and actress Dong Xuan.

According to Gao Quanzhong, co-president of Qiyuan and president of the Central R&D Department: at present, Qiyuan Robot has achieved one robot rolling off the line every 2.5 minutes, with daily production capacity increased from more than 10 units previously to more than 200 units.

Qiyuan's ability to ramp up production capacity within a month is largely due to borrowing manufacturing capabilities from the automotive industry.

The complete machine manufacturing partner of Qiyuan Robot is automotive wiring harness leader Huguang Co., Ltd. (605333). During WAIC in July this year, its wholly owned subsidiary Quanneng Embodied Intelligence Technology (Suzhou) signed a production line strategic cooperation agreement with SWANCOR Advanced Materials, focusing on robot complete machine assembly, dedicated wiring harness supporting, and mass production process coordination.

It is reported that, around mass production goals, Huguang will fully transfer its years of accumulated precision manufacturing capabilities for automotive parts, mature process methods, and full-process quality control and traceability systems to the robot complete machine manufacturing segment.

Xiaozhi's comment: The decisive factor for consumer-grade robots is shifting from technology to manufacturing. WeRide Subsidiary JingShuo Technology Completes First Financing

On October 29, WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800) disclosed the progress of the first financing round of its subsidiary JingShuo Technology. JingShuo Technology has now received a pre-A round co-investment of tens of millions of US dollars from investors including Jiayu Capital, HKSTP Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, and Sirius Capital.

JingShuo Technology is committed to building the data and model infrastructure for the physical AI era. With "high-quality data driving the evolution of physical AI" as its core philosophy, and relying on the data-model integrated platform WorldEngine and its self-developed world model GENESIS-Robotics, it has formed a product system covering the self-developed first-person-view high-precision data collection device EGOK, large-scale data collection, high-quality datasets, and customized data services, connecting real-world operational experience with the robot learning process.

At present, it is reported that JingShuo Technology has established cooperation with dozens of the world's top large-model companies and embodied intelligence enterprises globally, with 100+ customers and ecosystem partners, and orders in hand amounting to several billion yuan, providing strong data support for the R&D and application of physical AI and general large models. Its annual revenue growth exceeds 100%, demonstrating strong commercialization capability and growth potential.

Xiaozhi's comment: Spinning off the data capability for separate financing both independently unlocks value and relieves the parent company's investment pressure.

SynDexy's Dexterous Manipulation Humanoid Robot Completes First Small-Batch Delivery

On October 30, SynDexy announced that its self-developed dexterous-manipulation dual-arm wheeled humanoid robot, SynDexy C1, has completed its first small-batch delivery and will be used for precision assembly processes in the factories of consumer electronics and electronic component customers.

C1 is SynDexy's first dexterous-manipulation humanoid robot, with visual-tactile fusion as its core feature.

In terms of hardware, C1 is equipped with a self-developed visual-tactile sensor featuring micron-level spatial resolution; in terms of models, it carries what the company calls the world's first visual-tactile-force tri-state fusion manipulation model, SynDexy M1, which enhances environmental perception through the fusion of vision, touch, and force; the robot has 22 degrees of freedom across its body and is claimed to achieve 1-millisecond real-time motion control. Being able to complete delivery in precision assembly links shows that the visual-tactile fusion approach has passed the first step from prototype to factory entry.

It is reported that from R&D to delivery, C1 took only 6 months: R&D started in April 2026, the first-generation prototype was completed in July, and small-batch delivery took place in October. This speed also reflects the industry rhythm: what is being compared is no longer whose solution is more complete, but who can fastest stuff the product into real production lines.

Xiaozhi's comment: The first delivery is just a ticket to entry; next, what matters is yield, cycle time, and the speed of replicating to more workstations.

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