The Chinese robot industry is at it again. As companies continue to make progress with humanoid robots, Xpeng has now shown that its next-generation IRON robots can be built by robots. In one clip, we see the IRON humanoid robot get assembled and walk off the production line by itself, without needing a human to even start up.
Xpeng chairman and CEO Xiaopeng He shared the video on X. “Today, we launched the world’s first automated production line for advanced generalpurpose humanoid robots, using robots to massproduce robots, autonomously” he wrote.
Robot gets up and walks on its own after being made
In the video, the IRON humanoid robot walks from the production line towards Xiaopeng He. The robot then stops and waits till the Xpeng chief puts a card around its neck.
According to Xiaopeng, the IRON robot shown in the video was the company’s “first advanced generalpurpose humanoid robot” that was assembled and walked off the line on its own. He says that Xpeng was going to scale up this production line. As per Xpeng, more than 80 per cent of the line’s core processes are automated.
“To me, this is not just about a smarter tool or a commodity. I hope it gains true generalization ability to take on dangerous, repetitive, or undesirable tasks, and ultimately make life better,” Xiaopeng He wrote on X. “Perhaps one day, robots may become our companions, friends, or part of family.”
As per Xpeng, the automated production line combines automotive-grade quality systems from its EV business with precision robot manufacturing. Xpeng said robots are scheduled to enter mass production by year-end, with initial roll-outs in its own stores and campuses, while official launch and deliveries in China and overseas markets are planned for 2027.
What is IRON?
IRON first drew attention when it was unveiled at Xpeng’s AI Day last November. According to reports, the robot’s movements appeared so smooth that some people suggested a person might be inside a costume. Later, Xpeng engineers cut open its leg to show that it was not.
As per the company, IRON is being developed as an advanced general-purpose humanoid robot platform for a wide range of applications. The robot has 76 degrees of freedom across its body and 21 in each hand, and uses a proprietary fully enclosed flexible lattice structure intended to balance a human-like form with safety.
It is powered by three in-house Turing AI chips delivering up to 2,250 TOPS of effective computing power, which Xpeng said allows its Physical AI foundation model to run directly on the robot so that it can perform complex tasks autonomously without remote operation.
Xpeng is one of many Chinese robotmakers. Last month, during the World Humanoid Robot Games, companies including Unitree and AgiBot showcased their advancements in humanoid robots.
Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, ran 100 metres in 9.39 seconds, faster than the men’s world record held by Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt.
