Xiaomi, one of the largest consumer electronics companies from China, is advancing deeper into the robotics space.
The company recently unveiled a new "robot dog", also known as CyberDog — an experimental "open-source" machine that rivals its competitors at Boston Dynamics.
Key Highlights
- Xiaomi's CyberDog, also known as a "quadrupedal robot", is similar to Boston Dynamics' robot dog, "Spot".
- CyberDog is nimble enough to perform backflips, and weighs just 3kg. It is also capable of moving a 3.2m/s, double Spot's speed (which moves at 1.6m/s).
- Xiaomi mentions that only 1,000 units of the robot will be released, specifically for “Xiaomi Fans, engineers, and robotic enthusiasts”.
- The company also mentions that CyberDog has a "pet-like nature", with the ability to respond to voice commands and follow its owner much like a real dog.
Why It Matters
- Tech giants are starting to notice the huge market potential of quadrupedal robots, not just as pets, but to accomplish certain tasks (ie: deliveries, surveillance).
- Xiaomi did not mention what the company plans to use the robots for in the long term, and only stated that they carry "immense possibilities" for the future.
- The first 1,000 units will be sold at 9,999 Yuan, or roughly USD $1,540.