XPeng Rolls Out First Auto-Grade IRON Prototype

Prototype Milestone Achieved

XPeng has produced its first humanoid robot prototype engineered to automotive-grade standards, marking a pivotal step toward mass production in 2026. Unveiled as the Next-Gen IRON at recent tech events, this machine integrates vehicle-derived precision manufacturing and rigorous testing protocols typically reserved for electric cars. CEO He Xiaopeng highlighted its lifelike catwalk demo, where fluid strides and human-like posture fooled onlookers until unzipped on stage. Deployed internally for factory tasks, it accelerates XPeng's pivot from EVs to embodied AI, promising seamless human-robot collaboration in commercial settings.

Bionic Design Revolution

Next-Gen IRON redefines humanoid form with a spine mimicking human anatomy, bionic muscles for supple motion, and full-body flexible skin that enhances safe interactions. Customizable physiques, including male and female variants under 170 cm, allow tailored deployments. A head-mounted 3D curved display pairs with embedded sensors for expressive communication, while 22-DoF hands grasp fragile items like eggs or unscrew caps with pinpoint accuracy. This hardware synergy enables natural gestures that build trust in shared spaces, transforming robots from rigid tools into intuitive partners.

AI Compute Leap

Three Turing AI chips deliver 2250 TOPS, the industry's highest for humanoids, powering a second-generation Vision-Language-Action model for real-time dialogue, perception, and task execution. All-solid-state batteries slash weight by 30 percent while boosting energy density and safety, sustaining operations far longer than lithium rivals. This stack supports autonomous bipedal walking and adaptive decisions, drawing from XPeng's auto AI expertise to handle dynamic environments. Early tests show it iterating via cloud updates, evolving smarter weekly.

Deployment Horizons Expand

Initially targeting factories for assembly and inspection alongside Baosteel partners, Next-Gen IRON eyes retail guidance, warehouse sorting, and healthcare aid. Its 20 kg payload handles tools or packages delicately, while collaborative modes enable side-by-side work with humans. In EV lines, it streamlines precision tasks; in stores, it assists sales with conversational fluency. This versatility positions it as a commercial workhorse, prioritizing industrial reliability over home novelty to drive scalable adoption.

Interaction Skills Unleashed

Standing 178 cm and weighing 70 kg, Next-Gen IRON's bipedal mobility hits 6 km/h, letting it navigate crowds for extended customer guidance sessions fueled by a four-year battery life. RGB, stereo cameras, LiDAR, and ultrasonic arrays with IMU, gyroscope, force, temperature, and skin-embedded touch sensors enable dexterous human interactions, like handing precision instruments or sensing collaborative touches. Visual SLAM and indoor mapping power fluid paths, while force-limiting safety, collision avoidance, and emergency stops ensure gentle partnerships. Proprietary ROS2-based OS with Python/C++ APIs fosters research platforms for healthcare support or sales demos.

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